The Blue Workhorse

Last week, I was fortunate enough to get a hold of 5th row seats to the Florida/Tennessee game (thanks to Andrew and the Shelbyville crew). Unfortunately, that meant I was unable to make my weekly college football observations. This week, I tried to make up for it, however.

I watched as much college football as I possibly could this weekend. I tried to flip back and forth between the several games that were televised throughout the day on Saturday (as well as Thursday night’s game).

There were some huge matchups and some true battles, but this weekend will be known for all of the upsets (six Top 25 teams lost to unranked teams). Here are 49 observations about certain players and teams from 10 of the games I was able to watch:

(Also look for updated The Blue Workhorse College Football Top 25 in the next few days or check out last week’s poll and Week 3’s observations.)

USC v Oregon State (OSU 27, USC 21)

• Kevin Ellison is a 230 pound safety, and he definitely knows how to throw around that weight. He laid the lumber on a couple of Oregon State Beaver offensive players, including James Rogers on a fly sweep where Rogers got stood up in the backfield. Ellison hit him so hard that even Ellison stumbled away.
• Ellison stumbled away from another hit in the first half, except it was Sammie Stroughter who lit up Ellison with a crack back block on an end around. Ellison never saw it coming, which is a wide receiver’s wet dream.
• I wondered this question last week while at the Tennessee/Florida game and have further in the past as well, but why do teams line their quarterback up out wide at receiver when they have an “athlete” taking a direct snap? Whenever Joe McKnight was to take a direct snap, Mark Sanchez was at wide receiver (as was UT’s Jonathan Crompton when Gerald Jones took the direct snap in UT’s G-Gun formation ). I know that the double pass is an option, but how often does that ever happen? I’d rather get an extra blocker than a QB who isn’t going to be able to block anyone.
• You have to love Oregon State’s Halloween jerseys. USC surely was thinking it was a night of ghouls.
• And you gotta love the quiz show…the Jacquizz Rodgers show that is. The freshman juked his way back and forth through the vaunted Trojan defense. Jacquizz Rodgers and OSU’s Halloween jerseys, which will be giving USC nightmares all season long when they contemplate their national championship hopes (AP Photo/Steve Slocum).
• Rodgers does an incredible job of getting his feet on the ground. You can’t change direction as much and as quickly as the scat back does if you have really high strides.
• USC is going to need a lot of help to get back in the national championship picture. They will probably drop out of the Top 10 this week, and they don’t have any more true showcase games. They will play Cal, but will need Cal to run the table prior to their matchup for the game to have much national significance.

North Carolina v Miami (UNC 28, The U 24)

• Everyone in the ACC that wasn’t playing at noon Saturday took notice of what the Hurricanes did on their opening drive against UNC. Miami marched straight down the field 89 yards in 8 plays with 6 of the plays going for 8 yards or more and absolutely dominated UNC. They made it look way too easy with their athletes, especially running back Graig Cooper.
• Give credit to Butch Davis and the North Carolina coaching staff for making great adjustments. Down 14 points, some adjustments and the insertion of third string Cameron Sexton led to UNC’s comeback win.
• WOW! #1:
• WOW! #2: What a finish! In a matter of less than a second, it appeared Miami had won the game with a Robert Marve touchdown pass to Kayne Farquharson only for the ball to alude Farquharson’s hands and end up in North Carolina defensive back Trimane Goddard’s hands (his second INT of the fourth quarter).

Maryland v Clemson (Mary 20, Clem 17)

• Once again, Clemson got dominated up front, particularly in the second half. There just is no physicality in this squad. Maryland QB Chris Turner had plenty of time in the pocket for nearly the entire game (even when Clemson took a 17-6 lead into halftime).
• After dominating on the ground in the first half (204 rushing yards), Clemson couldn’t run the ball in the second half. How does the combination of C.J. Spiller and James Davis only get 31 rushing yards in the second half? A lack of physicality on the offensive line…yet again.

Indiana v Michigan State (MSU 42, IU 29)

• Another 44 carries for Javon Ringer and just 2 yards shy of his third consecutive 200 yard game. He is  averaging over 37 carries per game. Before this season, he shared carries with Jehuu Caulcrick and never had 30 carries in a game (and only 5 games with more than 20 carries), so I am wondering if he will be able to sustain his remarkable performances throughout the remainder of the season or if he will wear down.
• I don’t know if Ringer will show the stamina in the final games of the year, but even after he got to 35 and 40 carries Saturday, he was running hard in between the tackles.

Ole Miss v Florida (Miss 31, UF 30)

• One of Urban Meyer’s keys to winning, and one of the reasons Florida has been so successful this season, is field position. For the first time this season, Florida allowed an opponent to start a drive in Gators’ territory when Ole Miss started a drive at Florida’s 42 yard line in the second quarter. That drive would get them no where, but the Rebels would get 4 more opportunities to start drives in Florida territory.
• One reason no one had started in Gator territory was because Florida had not turned the ball over in their first three games. On Saturday, they lost 3 fumbles, including one each by their biggest playmakers Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow.
• You have to get the ball into the hands of your playmakers, and Florida thought they could fully use Harvin for the first time this year because he was finally truly 100%. I’d say they used him. He ended up with 23 touches and 267 total yards: 13 receptions, 185 yards, TD; 10 carries, 82 yards, TD.
• Ole Miss did something Tennessee was completely inept at last week against Florida. They got pressure on Tim Tebow. Against UT, Tebow had all day to throw, and the offensive line made streets, rather than just lanes, for the running backs. This week, it was a completely different story. Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow had great statistical days, but the offensive line had troubles, and the team result was not the same as last week against Tennessee (Blue Workhorse/Shotgun Spratling).
• I was not impressed with what I saw from Tebow throwing the ball last week when I attended the Fla/UT game, and I was equally unimpressed this week. Tebow had some underthrows, some overthrows, and just didn’t look very sharp. I know he can throw a nice ball, but there have been a lot of wobblers the past two weeks. For example, when Ole Miss blitzed on first and second down with Florida threatening at Ole Miss’s 41 yard line, Tebow overthrew both Louis Murphy and Harvin. If he would have laid the ball in there either time, Florida wins. Murphy would have scored a TD and Harvin would have at least set up a chip shot field goal.
• How in the world did Shay Hodge get so wide open on Ole Miss’s game-winning 86-yard touchdown catch? A great play-action fake by Jevan Snead and a blown coverage by safety Major Wright, that’s how. I did not see Snead play against Vanderbilt last week when he had four interceptions, but every time I have seen Snead play this year, he has been impressive.
• After Florida scored to make it 31-30, Urban Meyer was irate at the officials after Ole Miss blocked the extra point. It’s likely he thought Ole Miss was assisted over the top (it’s illegal to jump on the back of another player to attempt to block a kick). However, Kentrell Lockett just hurdled over the gap between linemen when an offensive lineman turned inside to make a block. I’m actually surprised it’s something that you don’t see more often. There are often gaps that, if a defender times right, can be hurdled for easy blocks.
• Was their any surprise that Tebow was running the ball to the strong side on Florida’s final play? I think Meyer should have dialed up the patented little Tebow jump throw. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen that play be unsuccessful for the Gators. Leak out a tight end from the weak side, and if there was nothing there, then have Tebow run it to that strong side.

Tennessee v Auburn (Aub 14, UT 12)

• If I were guessing about the relationship between Jonathan Crompton and Arian Foster, I would GUESS that they dislike each other. I’ve never seen such a talented duo have so much trouble interacting on the football field. Not only do they have individual troubles (Foster with fumbling & Crompton with throwing the right route and living up to his talent), but they have trouble with the exchange of the handoff (fumble on the 1 yard line last week against Florida & a fumble inside their own 5 yard line that Auburn recovered for a TD) and you never see the two anywhere near each other on the sideline.
• Crompton doesn’t seem to have any confidence in throwing the ball downfield. Even when he has plenty of time in the pocket, he scans and scans the defense only to dump it off to his check down receiver or even worse takes a sack.
• I will give Crompton credit for his toughness, though. If he ever has to scramble, he puts his head down instead of sliding. He also usually takes a pretty good lick from the defenders, but he gets right back up every time.
• When quarterback Kodi Burns was inserted into the lineup for Auburn, it was like an instant shot of adreneline. The offensive line started blocking better, the fans went crazy, and Auburn started moving the ball down the field.
• It’s a good thing Auburn has a great defense because their offense (even with spread option guru Tony Franklin as the offensive coordinator) just isn’t very good right now. Chris Todd isn’t making the throws (possibly due to injury) that he needs to make, and Burns doesn’t get to play due to inconsistency.
• Montario Hardesty should be the starting running back. He is more elusive than Foster and produces more on the few carries he gets each game. It may be that he can’t block in passing situations (I’m not sure), but if I need yards on the ground, I want the ball in Hardesty or Gerald Jones’s hands.
• Speaking of Jones, the kid is one of the most elusive players in the nation. It seems like every team has their version of the “Wildhog” formation that got such fame from Arkansas over the last two years. Tennessee has the G-Gun formation with Jones taking the snaps, but I think he is one of the top two or three athletes taking snaps from that type of formation this season.

Colorado v Florida State (FSU 39, Col 21)

• When your offense can’t move the ball consistently and has been atrocious at times, what do you do? Play great defense, win the special teams battle (blocked punt, kickoff return for TD), and get a big play or two. That’s how Florida State disbatched Colorado 39-21.
• I love the way running back Antone Smith carries the ball. He is one of those guys that is just full speed all the time. He runs into the middle of the line on a play that looks like he’ll be lucky to get a positive gain only to burst through the crowd of big bodies at full speed for a 8 yard gain.
• Then when you let Smith make one little cut and give him the edge, he takes it 60 yards to the house. He finished with 25 carries, 154 yards, and 3 touchdowns.
• Dakota Watson blew up Colorado’s upback in the process of blocking a punt late in the first half. The ball shot through the back of the end zone for a Colorado safety.
• FSU defensive back Myron Rolle has to be one of my favorite collegiate athletes all time. Not only is he an incredible talent, but he also is an incredible man. He already graduated pre-med from Florida State in 2 1/2 years and is line for a Rhodes Scholar interview later this year.

Wisconsin v Michigan (Mich 27, Wis 25 )

First Half:

• I have no doubt that Rich Rodriguez will eventually be able to turn Michigan into an offensive juggernaut, but as of now? The Michigan offense is so bad that they had 31 offensive yards on 28 first half plays.
• Michigan had as many turnovers as they did passing yards (3 to 3) in the first half. Yea, Steven Threet was 5/13 for 3 yards in the opening half.
• Wisconsin isn’t going to win the big games in the Big 10 this season. They aren’t going to move the ball consistently without a solid passing game. They have Ohio State and Penn State due up next, and both of those teams will stack as many defenders as they can in the box in order to stop P.J. Hill.

Second Half:

• Reverse everything I just said: The Wolverines found offense; Wisconsin found none until the last minute; and Allen Evridge discovered how to throw the ball late in the quarter.

Oklahoma v Texas Christian (Okla 35, TCU 10)

• Oklahoma scored first, but it appeared TCU had the immediate answer when Aaron Brown took the kickoff return and had a clear path to the end zone. However, Oklahoma’s Lendy Holmes showed incredible speed as he sped past a blocker and caught up with Brown to push him out of bounds. Instead of the apparent touchdown Brown and TCU seemed destined for, TCU had to settle for a field goal and a 7-3 deficit.
• The Sooners had revenge on their minds after TCU upset them at home to open up the 2005 season, and Oklahoma rarely ever loses at home (56-2 since Bob Stoops took over in 1999).
• I said in my Week 3 observations that I thought “Oklahoma may be the best team in the nation,” and this was at the same time USC was putting the beatdown on Ohio State.

Alabama v Georgia (Ala 41, UGA 30)

• Georgia’s penalties have been their biggest problem this season. They came into Saturday tied for the most penalties per game in the NCAA (10.4 per game). It was again penalties that hurt them on the opening drive of the game as Alabama scored thanks to two huge penalties. A 15 yard pass interference penalty on Prince Miller and, even more importantly, a roughing the passer penalty on Akeem Dent on a play that UGA forced and recovered a fumble.
• The one single play that had the biggest impact on the game was the A.J. Green fumble. Georgia was already trailing 17-0, but if Green doesn’t turn the ball over on that crucial third down play in the second quarter, he likely scores a huge 70-yard touchdown for Georgia because all of the Alabama was flowing in the opposite direction of the way Green turned on the play after the catch and Green has speed enough to make it untouched. That would have made it 17-7. Instead, the Crimson Tide got great field position, and it became 24-0 after a Roy Upchurch TD run a few plays later.
• Alabama completely took the crowd and emotion (that whole black jersey thing) out of the game by running the ball well early and throwing on first and second downs.
• Besides penalties killing Georgia, injuries are absolutely devasting the preseason #1. The Georgia defense was really hampered by an injury that occurred on the opening drive. Any time you lose an All-American, such as the Bulldogs’ best defender Dannell Ellerbe (knee injury), it is tough for that void to be filled. This is after they have been without their best defensive tackle, Jeff Owens, since the opening quarter of the first game of the year and without their best defensive end, Roderick Battle, since a neck injury took him out of an earlier game.
• Georgia’s other stalwart linebacker, Rennie Curran, had trouble with hamstring cramps and was limited in the second half. Also limited in the second half was Heisman hopeful, Knowshon Moreno. He injured his right wrist and then elbow. Add in a woozy Matthew Stafford, who didn’t talk to reporters after the game because of a few shots to the head he took in the game, and here’s the UGA injury tally: #1 QB, #1 RB, #1 OL (Trinton Sturdivant out for season), #3 WR (Kris Durham sprained his ankle Saturday night after back-to-back first down catches), #1 DE, #1 DT, #1 & #2 LB. Matthew Stafford is crunched by Alabama defenders Eryk Anders and Lorenzo Washington. The beating he took all night left him woozy after the game, but he wasn’t the only injured Bulldog. (AJC/Jason Getz).
• Georgia expended a lot of energy to get the score to 31-17 early in the fourth quarter, and Alabama took over and drove it down inside the 20. Georgia called a defensive timeout before a third down play, which I think was critical to give the Bulldog defense a chance to catch their breath because it was obvious they were winded at the time. Alabama did end up kicking a field goal, but the Crimson Tide was unable to get an extra first down, and that gave UGA a chance.
• The play that effectively sealed the game in my opinion was a short swing pass into the flats by John Parker Wilson to Upchurch. On third-and-5, Upchurch appeared to be cornered on the sideline, but he put a move on Dent (playing in place of Ellerbe) and picked up the first down and 29 yards setting up Glen Coffee’s second touchdown run.
• Speaking of Wilson, he was phenomenal in managing the game. He picked apart the zone coverage Georgia threw at him, placed the ball perfectly on the TD throw to Julio Jones, and only had to throw the ball 16 times. Just looking at each team’s quarterback’s stats gives you a great indication of how the game went: Wilson - 13/16, 205 yards, TD; Stafford - 24/42, 274 yards, 2 TD, INT. Wilson was able to just manage the game while Stafford had to chuck it around because Georgia was down.
• The matchup between the highly touted freshman receivers got attention all week. So who played best Saturday night? It would be a toss up if it wasn’t for Green’s fumble. Green - 6 catches for 88 yards, TD; Jones - 5 catches for 94 yards, TD. Both of these guys are going to be special, not only in the SEC or NCAA but in the NFL as well.

Also, congrats to Navy for their first win over a ranked team in 23 years and congrats to Duke for snapping their 25 game ACC losing streak. Duke’s last win came in November of 2004 when they defeated Clemson.

Did I miss something from a game? What did you see this weekend? What teams and/or players impressed you? Or who stunk it up?

Let us know your opinion.

Shotgun Spratling

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy these related posts:

• Week 9 College Football Observations (3)
• College Football Predictions: Week 10 (1)
• College Football Predictions: Week 9 (4)