R. Rich

T Minus... 6 days and counting!!!

I see your points and all, but I think bringing up Moss is a bit misleading. Based on his antics in Minnesota and Oakland, you certainly could classify him as a "me first" type guy. That said, can someone please detail for me the laundry list of antics Moss has pulled since he joined the Patriots? People who cite Peters' behavior are doing so 'cause said behavior happened while he was a member of the Bills. Not saying I agree w/ the mob mentality; I do understand where it's coming from though.

I think the conspiracy theorists are busy in South Bend this week.

You're not welcome, William.

...in the first quarter. Like it's been said, it's way too early to make a snap judgment. He did some good things and some bad things.

Man; I got so caught up in the first NFL Sunday that I forgot 'bout OUR first NFL Sunday! T Minus... 7 days and counting!!!

T Minus... 8 days and counting!!!

Last week was a really good starer week, huh? From the drama of Boise State's beatdown of Oregon (and the ugliness that followed) to that fantastic finish in the Miami-Florida State game, it was a great way to welcome back college ball! How will Week 2 fare? Guess we'll find out, as there are some intruiging matchups on the docket. Here's a few games I'll be watching/tivo'ing/VCR recording this week: GAME #1: Pittsburgh @ Buffalo Why this game?: As a fan of the UB Bulls (and a season ticket holder), I gotta throw my support for the "little team that did". The defending MAC champs will have a tough go of it, as the Panthers have to be feeling good following their 38-3 season opening win of Youngstown State. Meanwhile, UB got off to a strong start, building up a 23-7 lead and held on for the 23-17 win. Player(s) To Watch Out For: UB WR Naaman Roosevelt (5 catches for 91 yards and a TD last week) is a reliable target for new UB signal caller, sophomore Zach Maynard (12-19, 159 yds, 1 TD). The Bulls lost star RB James Starks to a shoulder injury, but have junior Brandon Thermilus (25 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD) ready to step in. Safeties Mike Newton, a senior, and Davonte Shannon, a junior, are pretty solid as well. Speaking of losing your stud RB, the Panthers adjusted to life w/out LeSean "Shady" McCoy just fine in their win last week, as freshman RB Dion Lewis finished w/ 129 yards and 3 TDs on 20 carries last week. The team still needs to find stability @ the QB position, as senior QB Bill Stull (11-16, 123 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) and redshirt freshman Tino Sunseri (5-8, 80 yards, 1 TD) battling to become the starter. Pittsburgh's defense is led by junior DE Greg Romeus and senior CB Aaron Berry. Prediction: UB is going to have a tough time getting a win this week. Lewis may or may not be the real thing (tough to go crazy over one week's work), but I think Pittsburgh has just too much talent overall to lose this one. Pittsburgh 28 - Buffalo 13 GAME #2: Troy @ Florida Why this game?: I haven't watched the Gators yet this season, so I am really interested in seeing the development of former Hypeman Trophy winner and current Hypeman Trophy candidate Tim Tebow. I've heard some good things 'bout his performance last week, so maybe the kid has a shot in the NFL as a QB. We'll see. Player(s) To Watch Out For: In addition to Tebow (10-15, 188 yards, 1 TD; 2 carries, 1 yard, TD), I want to check out Florida's All America LB Brandon Spikes. He's the defensive leader of Florida and a guy who can be a difference maker. CB Joe Haden is phenomenal, too. Watch him. The player I want to see from Troy is DE Brandon Lang. Here's another quick, undersized pass rusher from Troy. I wonder if he's @ the level of Osi Umenyiora or DeMarcus Ware, though. He'll get a chance to see what he's made of this week, that's for sure. Prediction: Florida is an easy team to root against, as they're arrogant from the coach down to the players. But, you know what else? They're really, really, really, really, really, really, really good. The crushed Charleston last week by 59 (62-3). I don't think they'll win by that much, which is the good news for Troy, but I think the Gators could very well pitch a shutout, which is not so good for Troy. Florida 54 - Troy 0 GAME #3: that school @ Michigan Why this game?: For the first time in some years, it MATTERS! The Wolves won big last week, giving RICH Rod a bit of a badly needed breather. that school finally got a Hypeman-worthy performance from QB Jimmy Clausen and appear to be loaded in terms of talent. Been a while. Player(s) To Watch Out For: Clausen (15-18, 315 yards, 4 TDs) got a lion's share of the praise for their 35-0 beatdown of Nevada, but sophomore WR Michael Floyd (4 catches, 189 yards, 3 TDs) was just money. Another sophomore, TE Kyle Rudolph (4 catches, 29 yards, TD), looks to be pretty solid also. The O line is led by junior G Chris Stewart and senior T Sam Young. We may be seeing both of these guys play on Sunday in the near future. Michigan may have found the QB they so badly need to run the spread offense in freshman Tate Forcier (13-20, 179 yards, 3 TDs) and also have fellow frosh Denard Robinson (2-4, 18 yards; 11 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD) to provide matchup problems. Robinson is quick! Junior G Stephen Schilling leads an O line that looks to improve and senior DE Brandon Graham leads a Michigan defense that forced 4 turnovers in their big win over Western Michigan. Prediction: They're baaaaack! Both teams can make that claim now. Good. College football is better w/ these two schools as a factor. Yeah, even you, that school. To me, it comes down to the inexperience of the Michigan QBs vs a defense that has experience, depth, and talent. It also is going to come down to a very good group of receivers for that school vs the Wolverines' work in progress type secondary. I think it'll be a close game, but I think it goes to the visitors. that school 24 - Michigan 20 GAME #4: USC @ Ohio State Why this game?: Hmmm, let' see: a matchup of two legendary programs, both of whom are ranked in the nation's Top 25. A chance to scout the competition (as a PENN STATE fan), and a chance to once again see how (if) the Big 11 measures up against top notch competition like the Pac 10 or the SEC. That's reason enough for me. Player(s) To Watch Out For: Trojan RBs Joe McKnight (14 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs), a junior w/ speed and moves galore, and Stafon Johnson ( 6 carries, 27 yards, 2 TDs), a senior bulldozer, lead a ridiculously deep group of RBs that also feature juniors Allen Bradford(4 carries, 53 yards, TD) and C.J. Gable (7 carries, 37 yards). Up front, the Trojans have junior center Kristopher O'Dowd and senior G Jeff Byers. Both are All Americans. The defense is led by standout senior safety Taylor Mays. TOSU sophomore tandem of RB Dan Herron (17 carries, 72 yards, TD) and QB Terrelle Pryor (14-21, 174 yards, TD, INT; 6 carries, 30 yards, TD) lead the way for the Buckeyes. Up front, the Bucks have replaced 3 starters and moved another one, so this unit is going to have growing pains. The defense is led by a couple stalwarts in junior CB Chimdi Chekwa and senior S Anderson Russell. Russell needs to step it up a bit after being roasted on an 85 yard TD last week by Navy RB Marcus Curry. Prediction: The way Curry, who was out of camp for 3 weeks w/ a virus, came back and embarrassed Russell on that play doesn't really endorse the Big 11's athleticism, now does it? As much as I want the Big 11 to show up and represent, I see this as another mismatch. Though I wish it weren't so, the Big 11 flops another test. USC 37 - Ohio State 13 A few others I will be watching and why: Western Illinois @ Northern Illinois: Western Illinois CB Patrick Stoudamire is pretty darn good! UNC @ UConn: UConn can get some payback for the beatdown they suffered last year in Chapel Hill. It's a tall order, as Butch Davis is putting together a talented bunch. Syracuse @ PENN STATE: Duh. The main thing I'll be watching is to see how well the running game works this week. They were abysmal last weekend. Get it fixed or be ready for more of the same (another loss to the Hawkeyes, another poor showing in a bowl game). Enjoy the games, folks!

T Minus... 9 days and counting!!! A week from today, I'll be on my way up to Nick Tahou's! I am soooo looking forward to this trip!

Of time?

What do you mean, "can't argue w/ that"? You post on TBD, don't you? The examples of Wilfork and Ngata are to the "we shoulda drafted (player I wanted and posted 'bout ad nauseum here)" crowd. You mention free agent misfires. Not the same thing. Both go to showing the poor judgment of management, but you're more able to recover from one (rookies who just need someone to guide and develop 'em) than the other (used and/or broken down guys like Kris "I won the Outland Trophy" Farris).

I thought he was caucasian.

The Steelers blizted effectively. The Titans blitzed rarely, and I think that was a big mistake. They used too much of a 3 man or 4 man rush, and they weren't generating enough heat. Fisher should've been a bit more flexible in that respect. Maybe if he had done so, the Titans would've won the game.

Weelcots ("Buffalo Beels")

In the booth, he's okay. For hours @ a time on Sirius, he's annoying beyond belief. Less is more w/ him.

I find it difficult to believe that Fitzgerald, who shared a field and practice facility w/ Ward (Pitt and the Stillers use the same facilities to train) and who is friends w/ Ward, would come out and say anything that would pubicly defend Ward's team.

Ward has done a good job of taking Holmes under his wing and develop him (imagine that) as a complete WR. His route running looks sharp, his awareness is very good, and his blocking has been pretty good as well. It would be nice if Owens would do the same for Lee Evans. Evans has great speed and is good on the 9 route (go route), but his route running in general is subpar and his blocking isn't anything to write home 'bout either.

That template can be used for far more than broadcasters.

Wait, you mean that if he's signed that whichever team signs him will NOT have to pay him for the full year's salary? That means they can sign him on the cheap, for the most part? Yeah, what are the chances anyone would do that?

Few, if any. That's the reason why I don't tend to bash individual players like Whitner. He didn't draft himself, and certainly didn't devise his own defensive schemes. I wonder just how ANY player would fare on the Bills' roster. People lament the passing over of big guys, like Vince Wilfork for Lee Evans or Haloti Ngata for Whitner, but who's to say Wilfork or Ngata would be as effective in Buffalo w/ this coaching staff? I think that while both guys are talented and that can't be taken away from 'em, in terms of awareness and recognition, they'd be pretty much on their own, and that would hamper their development. In other words, I don't think either would be the player @ the level they're now @ if they had been drafted by the Bills. And I certainly don't think that the Bills would be a better team even w/ those guys, 'cause they still would be coached by the same guys.

I don't think it's as simple as blaming Guy. Sure, there were moves that didn't pan out. They mention Dockery. Well, I watched the pre-season game where Pittsburgh played the Redskins, and Dockery looked pretty good in his blocking there. He's reunited w/ his boy Chris Samuels and they looked sharp, especially on the inital drive of that game. So, it's not that Dockery "sucks" and can't get it done. He simply didn't get it down while w/ the Bills. You think his play would've been as lackluster in Buffalo if the coach was a guy like Parcells? You know, someone that would not only challenge players, but get 'em to develop?

Ben works to keep plays alive 'til something develops DOWN THE FIELD. That's why he takes so many sacks. If he held onto the ball as much as he does, and when he did throw the ball threw it mainly to RBs and TEs, then I could draw a comparison to the Bills. Apples and oranges here. Looks like the Titans need to develop depth for the interior. Those guys who gave Haynesworth a rest (Jones, Brown, et al) are now getting the majority of the reps. They wore down as the game went on, and it showed.

Same as the year before. And the one before that. And the one before that. And...

Pretty good game in terms of the tight finish. Very sloppy one for the Titans, as they'll surely kick themselves for blowing chances to really jump on the Stillers. Ben has been one of the top QBs in the league for the past few seasons now. Well, for a guy who is overrated, that is... It's called coaching. Many people (aka favorite whipping boys) on the roster "suck", 'til they go somewhere else and, lo and behold, show that they can actually play. Funny how they get away from a team w/ seemingly no direction in terms of management and coaching, go to a team that has a better infrastructure, and perform better. Go figure.

Cincinnati has a defense that may finally be playing up to snuff. They started to come 'round toward the end of last year and they added some pretty good talent to the mix. They may be better than people think this year. Time will tell.