SB Nation - Memphis Tigers

KENTUCKY vs. TENNESSEE: It Doesn't Get Any Bigger Than This

Ken Howlett — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:24:15 -0000

Kentucky running back Derrick Locke will hopefully show his backside to the Volunteer defenders.

We all know about the streak. We all are embarrassed by the streak. We're all tired of the streak. Afterall, losing 24 straight to any school, in any sport, is repulsive to most sports fan's sense of fair play. It's simply no fun playing the nail, opposite Tennessee's (6-5, 3-4) ball-peen hammer.

But this game tonight (7:00 PM) isn't about the streak. It isn't about 24 years of blowouts, near-misses, and overtime heartache. Rather, this game is about second place in the SEC East. Nothing else matters. All the pontificating about streaks are merely window dressing compared to the importance of the game at hand ... the importance of Kentucky (7-4, 3-4) overcoming major injuries to star players, the preseason loss of All-SEC defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, of having to play 11 straight games, and of losses that should have been wins ... for this program to still rise to a high level of accomplishment in spite of the adversity speaks volumes about the character of the young men wearing the blue and white, and about the elevated level of talent Rich Brooks and staff have brought to Lexington. And in a year where most predictors of such events had the Wildcats finishing considerably south of second place, for UK to play in the Outback or Chick-Fila Bowl would certainly be an attention-getter both nationally, and within the borders of the Commonwealth.

Four straight bowl games, and a 31-20 record over the last four years, topped off by a second place finish in arguably the most gruesome division in college football, would certainly qualify as a continuance of the Brooks building process. And for this group of 'Cats to continue to build on the unique accomplishments they are responsible for this season -- Winning three straight SEC road games since 1909-'12, beating Auburn for the first time since 1961, and beating Georgia between the hedges for the first time since 1977 -- adds to the legacy of Rich Brooks, but more importantly, enriches the perception of the Kentucky football program throughout the high schools of the south and beyond. Putting the Wildcats that much closer to the goal at-hand -- Becoming a football program that consistently competes at the highest level.

In order for Kentucky to take the next step, they must first conquer the demons in orange. Here is thine enemy:

Unit Comparison (SEC Rank in Parenthesis)

- Scoring Offense -- UT 30.6 points per game (5): UK's coring defense -- 22.2 points per game (7).
- Scoring Defense -- UT allows 20.7 points per game (t5): UK's scoring offense -- 26.5 points per game (7).
- Total Offense -- UT averages 390.8 yards per game (6): UK total defense -- 355.4 yards per game (8).
- Total Defense -- UT allows 313.2 yards per game (5): UK total offense -- 342.9 yards per game (10).
- Rush Offense -- UT rushes for 164.7 yards per game (7): UK rush defense -- 179.3 yards per game (11).
- Rush Defense -- UT allows 141.3 yards per game (6): UK rush offense -- 196.2 yards per game (5).
- Pass Offense -- UT throws for 226.1 yards per game (3): UK pass defense -- 176.1 yards per game (6).
- Pass Defense -- UT allows 171.9 yards per game (5): UK pass offense -- 146.7 yards per game (11).
- Sacks By -- UT has executed 19 sacks (9): UK sacks against -- 14 (5).
- Sacks Against -- UT has allowed only 11 sacks (1): UK sacks By -- 15 (12).
- Third Down Conversion -- UT is at 39.3% (6): UK third down conversion defense -- 39.0% (12).
- Third Down Conversion Defense -- UT allows a 34.4% conversion rate (5): UK third down conversion -- 39.8% (4).
- Turnover Margin -- UT is a + 4 (5): UK is a +3 (6).
- Red Zone Offense -- UT converts 41-46 (89.1%) of their RZ attempts (5): UK red zone defense -- 28-37 (75.7%) (5).
- Red Zone Defense -- UT has allowed 30-35 (85.7%) RZ scores: UK's red zone offense -- 33-40 (82.5%) (8).

The Tennessee Offense

Jonathan Crompton -- 6'4", 228 lb senior quarterback: This season the formerly embattled UT signal-caller has stepped-up his game considerably. He has completed 196 of 335 passes (58.5%) for 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Comparing Crompton's numbers last season -- 86-167 (51.5%) for 889 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions -- to those of this year reveals a much-improved quarterback who has been trusted with the reins of the Tennessee offense.

Crompton has thrown only one interception in the last four games (122 passes). His two best games this season -- Versus Georgia, he threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns on 20-27 passing; Against Memphis, Crompton was 21-27 through the air for 331 yards and five touchdowns. Last season versus UK, Crompton was an 6-8 for 101 yards and one touchdown.

Montario Hardesty -- 6'0", 199 lb junior running back: Hardesty's production is another reason for UT's success this season. He's rushed for 1,127 yards (102.5 yards per game) on 225 carries (5.0 yards per carry), and nine touchdowns. He's also caught 19 passes for 212 yards (11.2 yards per reception), and one touchdown.

Last week in UT's 31-16 win over Vanderbilt, Hardesty rushed for a season-high 171 yards on 22 carries (7.8 ypc), and one touchdown. Hardesty has scored at least one touchdown in eight games this year, and he's ran for over 100 yards four times: WKU, Ohio U., South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.

Bryce Brown -- 6'0", 215 lb freshman running back: Brown has carried the ball 98 times for 452 yards (4.6 ypc), and three touchdowns. He's also caught 10 passes for 137 yards (13.7 ypr), and one touchdown.

Coming out of high school last year, Brown was rated the No. 1 running back, as well as the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.

David Oku -- 5'10", 186 lb freshman running back: Oku has rushed for 94 yards on 23 carries (4.0 ypc) and two touchdowns. Oku has caught two passes for 13 yards (6.5 ypr). He's also returned 30 kick-offs for 780- yards (26.0 yards per return).

The Oklahoma native recorded 154 all-purpose yards in UT's game versus Ole Miss. Coming out of high school last year, Oku was rated the No. 1 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals, and the No. 30 running back by SuperPrep.

Gerald Jones -- 6'0", 190 lb junior wide receiver: In 10 games, Jones, UT's top receiver, has caught 36 passes for 497 yards (13.8 ypr) and four touchdowns. Last season versus UK, Jones caught a touchdown pass in the Tennessee victory.

Jones went for over 100 receiving yards versus Georgia -- Five catches for 105 yards, and two touchdowns. He also had strong outings against Auburn (seven catches for 75 yards), and Alabama (seven catches for 72 yards), but he's caught only one touchdown pass in the last three games (versus Memphis).

Denarius Moore -- 6'1", 190 lb junior wide receiver: Moore has made 35 catches for 455 yards (13.0 ypr), and six touchdowns.

Moore has scored four of his six touchdowns in the last three games.

Quintin Hancock -- 6'3", 207 lb senior wide receiver: In only eight games, Hancock has made 27 catches for 298 yards (11.0 ypr), and two touchdowns.

Marsalis Teague -- 5'10", 180 lb freshman wide receiver: Teague has 13 receptions for 147 yards (11.3 ypr), and two touchdowns.

Teague was rated the No. 4 prospect in the state of Tennessee out of high school by Rivals, as well as the No. 28 athlete in the nation, also by Rivals.

Luke Stocker -- 6'6", 240 lb junior tight end: Stocker has been an integral part of the UT offense, catching 22 passes for 292 yards (13.3 ypr), and four touchdowns.

The Tennessee Defense

Eric Berry -- 5'11", 203 lb junior corner back: Berry has made 75 tackles (49 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.

The First Team All-SEC selection is UT's defensive force in the secondary, although UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has been bringing Berry up support the run defense. Don't be surprised if Berry is asked to contain Randall Cobb in tonight's tilt.

Rico McCoy -- 6'1", 220 lb senior linebacker: McCoy leads the Vols with 99 tackles (59 solo). He's also posted 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, four forced fumbles.

In 2006 versus UK, McCoy forced the first fumble of his career.

Dan Williams -- 6'3", 327 lb senior defensive tackle: Williams has recorded 56 tackles (28 solo), and he's tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 8.5. He's also has 2.0 sacks, and a team-leading nine quarterback hurries.

In UT's four overtime victory over UK in 2007, Williams had a game-changing field goal block. Well, it wasn't so much as a block, as the ball being kicked directly into his face mask. There is no doubt that Williams is a defensive force that must be dealt with by the UK offensive line. They must keep him away from Morgan Newton, and run away from him in the ground game.

Chris Walker -- 6'3", 232 lb junior defensive end: Walker has made 34 tackles (16 solo), and he's tied for the team lead with 8.5 tackles for loss. He leads UT with 6.0 sacks, and he's also recorded two interceptions and one pass breakup.

Dennis Rogan -- 5'10", 178 lb defensive back: Rogan is third on the team with 56 tackles (35 solo). He's executed 4.0 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and five pass breakups. He's also recovered two fumbles. Rogan will also return punts. This season he's returned six punts for 46 yards (7.7 yards per return), and two kick-offs for 52 yards (26.0 ypr).

In 2007 versus UK, Rogan returned three punts for 24 yards (8.0 ypr), and two kick-offs for 48 yards (24 ypr). He had three tackles, including his first tackle for loss.

Chad Cunningham -- Cunningham serves as UT's punter and kick-off artist -- He's punted 44 times for a 41.5 average. He's kicked-off 64 times, and has only four touch-backs.

Daniel Lincoln, Cunningham, and Devin Mathis have all kicked field goals for the Vols this season -- Lincoln is 10-16 (62.5%), Cunningham is 1-2 (50.0%), and Mathis is 1-1 (100%). Lincoln missed last weeks Vanderbilt game.

The three have combined to miss only one field goal under 40 yards.

Tennessee Wins (Teams in bold represent common opponents)

63-7 over WKU, 34-23 over Ohio U., 45-19 over Georgia, 31-13 over South Carolina, 56-28 over Memphis, and 31-16 over Vanderbilt.

Tennessee Losses

19-15 to UCLA, 23-13 to Florida, 26-22 to Auburn, 12-10 to Alabama, 42-17 to Ole Miss.

CliffsNotes Analysis

Tonight's battle represents two teams vying to succeed in the same areas -- Even though UK's two biggest play-makers are banged up (Cobb's shoulder, and both of Locke's knees), after Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster gashed the Vols for 282 yards on 25 carries (11.6 ypc) and four touchdowns, the 'Cats will look to gain the bulk of their yardage on the ground.

Although UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton has proved to be much improved over last year, because of UK's weak run defense, look for a steady diet of UT running backs looking for holes. Hardesty, Brown, and Oku will get a healthy dose of carries in an attempt to control the clock, and bury UK with a ground game suited to do just that.

Look for Randall Cobb to have a big day. Although Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin wasn't in place during Cobb's recruitment, I expect Cobb will be highly motivated to display to his hometown team what they are missing.

It's really pretty simple -- UK must run the ball to the tune of at least 4.5-5.0 yards per carry, and Morgan Newton must continue to come through in the clutch with on-target throws if UK hopes to come out victorious. Recently Newton has been excellent at not turning the ball over ... that trend must continue.

Likewise, UK's defense must find it within themselves to stop the run. UT's three primary ball-carriers are legitimate, dangerous weapons. The Vols rushing for 200 + yards will surely spell doom for the 'Cats.

Field position will also play a big role in tonight's outcome. With UK in possession of two of the best return men in the SEC (Cobb and Locke), this category seems to be a plus for the 'Cats.

Last week versus Georgia, UK saw first-hand the advantage gained by creating turnovers (they were +4). The 'Cats must continue to hit hard, hit often, and hit with a purpose. If the UK defense comes to play, I like the 'Cats chances of partying like it's 1984 -- UK's last victory over the Vols.

Fearless Prediction

Kentucky - 27 Tennessee - 24

For Tru's take on the game, and a listen to a podcast interview we did with the guys from Rocky Top Talk, please scroll down.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats, beat the Vols!

The Sad Truth: 2009 Will Go Down As the Year the Colorado Buffaloes Blew It

irish1611 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:02:02 -0000

As news came down today that Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson potentially might not playing tonight, I got to thinking about how the Colorado Buffaloes blew a great chance to make a mark this season. It is truly amazing how the schedule and the weakness of the Big 12 North set the Buffs up perfectly to return to the spotlight in '09 but using part of a quote from head coach Dan Hawkins, the Buffs did not "sieze the day." Look at the schedule below. Doesn't that make you sick? Granted, we now know the Buffs are less than stellar themselves but think if the Buffs' offensive line performed up to expectations, WR Markques Simas was coached and prepared to play like he was now from game one (not suspended), if Tyler Hansen started the year at quarterback, if the Buffs weren't at the bottom of the nation in turnovers & penalties, and the defense started the season like they have been playing the past few weeks. Yes, I know the saying about using "ifs" and "buts". I know. But Colorado blew it this year, no "ifs" or "buts" about it:

Going into the preseason, there were four teams the Buffs could lose to and you wouldn't be totally surprised - at West Virginia, at Texas, Kansas and at Oklahoma State. West Virginia because it was a road game and we knew that would be a tough environment. We thought Kansas and Todd Reesing would be back to their normal abuse of the Buffs like the previous three years. Games at Texas and Oklahoma State were the hardest two on the schedule and were considered the two contests the Buffs would most likely lose preseason. But Kansas isn't who we thought they were as the Buffs' beat them sending the Jayhawks into a downfall. Tonight, Oklahoma State might be playing without two preseason All Big 12 players and their All American candidate runnining back Kendall Hunter has been hurt six games in 2009.

- Colorado St. Rams - no reason to lose to them considering the year they are having. AT FOLSOM FIELD! (L)
-@ Toledo Rockets - no reason to lose to them considering the year they are having. (L)
- Wyoming Cowboys - Buffs won (W)
-@ West Virginia Mountaineers- would accept a loss preseason and now. Tough place to play on the road (L)
-@ Texas Longhorns - would accept a loss preseason and now. Game on the road. (L)
- Kansas Jayhawks - Buffs won, was expected to be a preseason loss (W)
-@ Kansas St. Wildcats - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent (L)
- Missouri Tigers - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent at home. (L)
- Texas A&M Aggies - Buffs won (W)
-@ Iowa St. Cyclones - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent (L)
-@ Oklahoma St. Cowboys - Kendall Hunter returned two weeks ago and may not be 100% but think about this. Oklahoma State tonight will be playing without Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant and a less than 100% Kendall Hunter...unbelievable the luck if we had a mentally tough team.
- Nebraska Cornhuskers - very winnable game against a mediocre Big 12 North opponent at home.

A relatively easy out of conference schedule, a mediocre Big 12 North schedule with winnable road games against Kansas State and Iowa State, a down Kansas team, and an Oklahoma State squad that is missing a lot of offensive fire power with Robinson and Bryant out...

But once again, you have to look back at the slow start to begin the year and not getting these guys ready to play. Not having momentum and excitement on the road and "overlooking" Colorado State as Riar Geer said defines this team and the opportunity they left on the table.

If there is any reason for a change in Boulder, look at 2009, how the chips fell in place and the way the Buffs responded. "10 wins no excuses" was supposed to motivate the players, a change at offensive coordinator and a return to a pro-style offense was supposed to put players in a better position to be successful. A deep linebacker corp was supposed to bolster the defense with the emergence of CB Jimmy Smith. Of course, the defensive line was a preseason concern but they have certainly outperformed expectations.

Instead, the Buffs can't run the ball with any consistency and they can't keep a mobile quarterback from getting sacked eight times a game. A quarterback change was made too late, Colorado continues to suffer on the mental side of the game with turnovers and penalties, the defensive scheme was too complicated at the beginning of the year which cost the Buffs' games and Colorado continues to play unmovitated football especially on the road, something the players have admitted multiple times this year.

I think this is the only case you need to make. In a year that any improvement over the previous three years should have at least netted the Buffs a low level Bowl birth, Colorado has three wins.

Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC

T Kyle King — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:52:13 -0000

I started with the national games of interest this week, so now I need to circle back around to look at the Southeastern Conference slate. My 6-1 ledger in last week’s league picks left me at 57-10 for the fall, but, honestly, I should’ve gone 7-0 against last Saturday’s sorry schedule, so my usual disclaimer still stands: Don’t Bet On It!

Each of the following games will take place on Saturday because this isn’t the Mid-American Conference, dang it:

Kentucky Wildcats at Vanderbilt Commodores: The battle for eleventh place on my SEC Power Poll ballot kicks off in Nashville when the Bluegrass State Felines visit the Music City Sailors. I’m not going to mince words here: Vanderbilt is so bad that the ‘Dores lost by a double-digit margin to Georgia. Clearly, Kentucky will emerge victorious.

Troy Trojans at Arkansas Razorbacks: The Hogs host the Trojans for the third time in the last four years this weekend after having won the 2007 battle 46-26 and lost the 2006 meeting 50-14. Of course, that 2006 game was against the Southern California Trojans, so this represents a bit of a step down in weight class. I like Arkansas to take care of Troy, who is, after all, just one guy.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at LSU Tigers: I would make a joke about this being a battle for local bragging rights, but, when you look at the other programs aspiring to be the Bayou Bengals’ Pelican State rival, you realize Louisiana Tech really is the prime contender. With apologies to Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech ain’t that much of a contender. Louisiana State’s dominance of Bulldog squads this season continues.

Alabama Crimson Tide at Mississippi St. Bulldogs: Both teams wear maroon, once employed Sylvester Croom, and are pleased with where their current head coaches have gotten them, but there the similarities end. Dan Mullen has done a fine job, but he hasn’t done a fine enough job to beat ’Bama. In his defense, though, any Mississippi State coach who had done a good enough job to beat ‘Bama probably was cheating his hindquarters off.

Tennessee Volunteers at Mississippi Rebels: Apparently, a stricter truth-in-advertising statute went into effect in the Magnolia State on November 1. Prior to that point, almost all of the teams Ole Miss faced were, to put it bluntly, lying. The Vanderbilt Commodores are not, in fact, high-ranking naval officers. The Auburn Tigers and Memphis Tigers are really human beings rather than large jungle felines. The Arkansas Razorbacks are people rather than pigs in need of a veterinary spinal dermatologist. Since Halloween, though, the Rebs have played two teams who were honest about their mascots. As I was informed repeatedly, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks hail from a home town founded by actual lumberjacks. Likewise, it turns out that the Tennessee Volunteers are not paid staff members. Much to my annoyance, the Big Orange will wallop the Rebels on the road.

Florida Gators at South Carolina Gamecocks: Don’t be alarmed, but, when Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer meet at midfield for the postgame handshake, the South Carolina Department of Homeland Security will upgrade the SOB Alert Level to Condition Orange. Actually, I heard that the two coaches had made a private bet on this game. If the Sunshine State Saurians win, Darth Visor will retire from coaching and become a full-time amateur golfer; if the Palmetto State Poultry win, Corch Meyers will take the Notre Dame job. I’m not saying that’s true; I just read it on Bleacher Report. Anyway, I’ll be rooting for South Carolina, but I’m picking Florida.

For my final forecast, I predict that I will be wrong on 50 per cent of the foregoing prognostications. Why am I so willing to bank on my own inaccuracy? Because I know to follow the advice you should have sense enough to take: Don’t Bet On It!

Coming Soon: National Game of Disinterest.

Go ‘Dawgs! Auburna delenda est!

It's That Time of Year Again: Bud Foster to Memphis?

furrer4heisman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:00:42 -0000

More photos » by Steve Helber - AP

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Every year when a decent head coaching job comes open Bud Foster's name gets bandied about on Virginia Tech message boards. Earlier this year I even speculated that Louisville would be a good fit for Foster when they decide to give Kragthorpe the ax. But the Louisville jobs and the ones before it all fit into Foster's criteria: A BCS school with a history of success he could thrive at.

My thought was always that Foster wasn't going to get his shot at a head coaching job until he changed his criteria for a job worth leaving Virginia Tech for. Brace yourselves, because it's happened. According to Mark Viera's blog post over at the Washington Post, Foster is interested in the Memphis head coaching job:

Asked what would be attractive about the program, Foster said: "It's a Conference USA job. You look at teams like Cincinnati, you look at teams like Pittsburgh, you look at teams like Louisville - those three have recently had success that are in urban kind of settings. Memphis is in that same kind of setting and in a pretty decent area from a recruiting standpoint, when you start looking at the athletes they have in that area."

Let the meltdown begin.

Foster's interest in a CUSA job will definitely get the attention of Tech fans who have long feared that Foster would leave and chaos would ensue. Memphis doesn't even come close to what Foster has said he wants in a football program. It's never been better than mediocre and the Tigers have been to seven bowls in their history, five since 2003.

If Foster's interested in Memphis, it means he's going to be interested in a lot more jobs that are destined to come open this offseason. I think Bud has finally realized that he's not going to go directly from being a defensive coordinator to being the head coach at a top tier program. He's going to have to cut his teeth somewhere like Memphis if he wants his opportunity.

Is this the year Bud leaves Virginia Tech? You tell me.

Poll

What's your reaction to Bud Foster's interest in the Memphis head coaching job?

Panic!

126 votes

VT will make him HCIW to avoid his departure

79 votes

Bud will leave VT after 2009, but not for Memphis

80 votes

This means nothing

88 votes

373 votes | Poll has closed

National News and Notes

Year2 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:59 -0000

More photos » by Mike Stone - AP

Rejoice! Finally, a sell out in Fort Worth.

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Because we're all playing for bowl positioning now, and that only goes so far.

Congrats to the Frogs.

You may recall a couple weeks ago that I pointed out that TCU, despite playing big time football, hasn't been drawing fans like a big time program. Well as a follow up to that, I'm pleased to report that the Horned Frogs have their first sell out in three years coming up in their showdown with Utah on Saturday. It still floors me that a program just outside the gigantic and football-crazy Dallas area can't find 44,000 people to show up to watch really good football, but I guess that's the nature of the beast in the mid-major ranks.

Mack Brown at least has a sense of humor.

Texas coach Mack Brown freely admits that he doesn't understand everything about how the BCS works, and he often has someone come in to explain things to him. When asked this week about if he was worried about falling to third in the BCS standings, he replied that someone told him that if the Longhorns keep winning they're in, and that's all he cared about. He also slipped in a little zinger too:

Brown was asked if the computer elements to the BCS standings don’t like his team as much as the human polls.

"I’ve called the computers. They haven’t called me back," Brown said. "I’ve invited them to our games. I don’t think any of them have shown up."

Nice. I wonder though if anyone has told him that it's the humans, not the algorithms, who have USC above Oregon.

The other choice is the Ghost of Christmas Past.

With Tommy West out at Memphis, speculation has arisen as to who will replace him there. If ESPN is to be believed, it could look a lot like Auburn's past in Graceland as Tommy Tuberville and Terry Bowden are the top two candidates. According to a website called FootballScoop.com (yeah, I haven't heard of it either), ~~former~~ current Auburn assistant Trooper Taylor is also on their list. Who knew Memphis scouted the Tigers of the Plains so closely? Also, it says look for Phil Fulmer's name to come up, but personally, I think Fulmer (and Tuberville for that matter) could get a much better job. (H/T CFT)

Apparently his copy of Phil Steele's season preview magazine just arrived.

Urban Meyer says he knows what is ailing the Florida offense. For one thing, it's a lack of big plays and defenses showing his team new looks. Beyond that though, he says it's a combination of transitioning to a new offensive coordinator, the losses of Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy at receiver, and the losses of last year's starting offensive tackles Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins. Apparently, it only took him nine games to put that together.

It is telling though that Florida hasn't turned the ball over in the past two games and each one resulted in a 24 point margin of victory. I think a lot of people undervalued the role of turnovers in the Gators' struggles with teams earlier in the season.

Vultures.

Okay, so maybe not everyone is playing for bowl positioning. Tennessee is playing for recruiting positioning, of course. Did you know Charlie Weis is in trouble? And that Notre Dame has not just one, but two quarterback commits? Rocky Top Talk says watch for the UT coaches to swoop in on those guys should Weis be shown the door.

The King of the West is Dead; Long Live the King of the West -- Alabama Clinches and Other Week 10 Action

cocknfire — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:30:25 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

Alabama has ended LSU's dynasty.

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THE BALANCE OF POWER SHIFTS IN THE WEST
Alabama 24, LSU 15

Consider that before the beginning of last season, LSU had been to the SEC Championship Game in four of the last seven seasons while Alabama had not gone to Atlanta in early December since 1999. The Bayou Bengals won three of those appearances and used their 2003 and 2007 showings to launch LSU to national titles. LSU lost only nine SEC games from 2003-07, no more than two in any one season and none to Alabama.

Two years later, LSU is no longer the pre-eminent team in the SEC West; Alabama is. The Tide has defeated the Tigers in two consecutive seasons -- the first time Alabama has done that in a decade. The Tide has gone 14-0 in regular season SEC games over the same time frame and lost only to eventual national champion Florida in last year's SEC title bout.

And with a solid junior quarterback and superstar sophomore running back likely to return next year, there's little reason except defensive attrition to believe that Alabama won't at least be a strong favorite to repeat next season. After all, those offensive starters helped ring up 452 yards of total offense Saturday, including Greg McElroy's above-average outing (19-of-34, 276 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) and Mark Ingram's latest Heism@n statement (22 carries, 144 yards).

Meanwhile, LSU still seems adrift in some respects. QB Jordan Jefferson was OK before he left the game (10-of-17, 114 yards, 1 TD), and Charles Scott was having a solid day (13 rushes, 83 yards) before his likely college career-ending injury. Once both stars were out, the Tigers offense wasn't able to score enough to stave off Alabama's rally.

The unacknowledged interception near the end of the game -- and it was an interception -- will get a lot of attention after the previous officiating problems in the SEC, and it should. But that's not why LSU lost this game. The Tigers lost because Alabama is just a little better than they are right now. And that doesn't look to change anytime soon.

KO IN FAYETTEVILLE
Arkansas 33, South Carolina 16

If this was, as the announcers incessantly reminded us Saturday, a game between two of the up-and-coming teams in the SEC, give the first round to the Razorbacks by knock-out. Sure, Arkansas only outgained South Carolina by 25 yards and gained the same number of first downs (17) as did the Gamecocks, but after the Gamecocks scored 13 seconds into the third quarter to take a 16-10 lead, Arkansas blocked the ensuing extra point and proceeded to blow out the Gamecocks 23-0 for the rest of the game.

Ryan Mallett had no touchdowns or interceptions but still threw the ball for gobs of yards, going 23-of-27 for 329 yards against a Gamecocks defense that was one of the best in the league until twin demolitions against Tennessee and Arkansas. TE D.J. Williams, missing in action for the first eight games of the season, grabbed seven catches for 137 yards.

The defense for Arkansas wasn't sterling against one of the SEC's most anemic offenses, but they came up with the plays when needed: three of South Carolina's five first-half possessions ended in punts and the defense picked what would have been a go-ahead TD in the third quarter.

For South Carolina, the defense contributed mightily to losing this game by allowing 405 yards. The rushing numbers weren't quite as bad as they look; take out the two sacks for a loss of 16 yards and the 32-yard loss on a snap that shot over Stephen Garcia's head late in the game, and the Gamecocks rushers gained 101 yards on 23 carries during a game in which South Carolina trailed for the last 24:43. But when the best thing that can be said about your rushing attack during the 10th game of the season includes the phrase "take out ... the 32-yard loss on a snap," your football team has deeper issues. (In fairness to the Gamecocks, the normal center was out of the game at the time and a valiant effort to recover the snap by Garcia before it made its way into the end zone for a safety was in vain.)

One of those issues is an overreliance on Alshon Jeffery. The freshman and future star had another great day (5 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD). But the semi-regular throws to Jeffery in the end zone have become predictable, and one of those attempts led to Garcia's lone interception (overall: 20-of-34, third straight 300+ yard passing game with 327, 1 TD, 1 INT). And it's not like Moe Brown or Weslye Saunders are chopped liver; both are more than capable of taking some of the load off of Jeffery. So why did they only have three receptions between them? And why did the Gamecocks' other talented freshman, Tori Gurley, have one catch? At least, in the 10th game of the season, the South Carolina coaching staff figured out that Bryce Sherman might be someone they want to get the ball to. And it only took 117 all-purpose yards.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE YOU PEOPLE HAPPY?
Florida 27, Vanderbilt 3

There's not much for Florida to complain about in this performance: outgaining Vanderbilt by 176 yards and allowing just three points would count as a great game in most SEC teams' books. The Commodores are a trickier win than most non-SEC fans give them credit for being, and supposedly better teams have starting losing to Vanderbilt with frightening regularity over the last few years.

But this is Gainesville, and any victory over Vanderbilt that includes scoring fewer than 30 points isn't much of a victory at all -- meaning Steve Addazio is still one of the least popular coaches on a Top 5 team. Tim Tebow was an efficient 15-of-20 for 208 yards and 1 TD, but was allowed to stay in the game just late enough to draw criticism but not to make the game a complete laugher. (John Brantley in relief: 3-of-3, 19 yards.)

As for Vanderbilt: What's left to say about the Commodores? The hopes of back-to-back bowl games had already ended by the time they visited the Swamp and the 199 yards of offense proves that they still have just as far to go to catch the elite in the SEC East as they did before last season's breakthrough winning record. They still play disciplined football -- two penalties and one turnover -- but that's enough when the others guys make up one of the best teams in the country.

MR. WEST REQUESTS YOU REMOVE YOUR PLAYERS AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER
Tennessee 56, Memphis 28

By the time the Vols were leading 42-7 at the half, it was easily time to call off the dogs. Memphis head coach Tommy West, canned after the debacle on Rocky Top, probably wishes Lane Kiffin had done so earlier, but you can't blame the other team for running up the score in the first half.

Yardage-wise, this wasn't quite as thorough a shellacking by Tennessee as you might think. Tennessee outgained Memphis 566-403 and gained just two more first downs (29-27). But take those numbers into account with this grain of salt: Tennessee covered 367 yards with its first half drives; Memphis gained 84.

Jonathan Crompton continued his unexpected second-half resurgence -- or perhaps "surgence," since there's little for Crompton to "re-" -- going 21-of-27 for 331 yards and 5 TDs. The Vols ground game "only" picked up 137 yards and 2 TDs on 33 carries. But that's the only nit you can pick about a game where Tennessee did what it should to prove that the early-season predictions of gloom were overstated.

THEY WON THE FIRST HALF
Auburn 63, Furman 31

The good news for Auburn is that the halftime score was 42-3 and the 28-21 second-half advantage for Furman was largely the result of playing everyone except the first row against the Paladins. But that still means that, from all appearances, the non-starting portion of Auburn's roster isn't capable right now of defeating an FCS team. This does not bode well for the future. All that aside, Chris Todd showed he's still the No. 1 surprise quarterback of the year, going 17-of-18 -- that's right, he threw just one incompletion -- for 256 yards and 4 TDs. Were he a Florida quarterback, he might have gone 37-of-38 for 523 yards and 9 TDs. Neil Caudle also did well (10-of-12, 117 yards) in significant action as a signal-caller, while the rushing attack gained 282 yards and 5 TDs on 39 carries. And the defense did only allow 266 yards despite giving up so many points. Still, 31 points.

THAT WAS EASY. SORT OF
Georgia 38, Tennessee Tech 0

It's easy to be critical of an SEC team that decides to place an FCS cupcake on its schedule -- especially one from another state, where there's no historical or geographical reason for doing so -- but Georgia needed this one. The Dawgs' much-criticized defense limited Tennessee Tech to eight first downs and 55 yards, including -13 rushing on 31 carries. Georgia also rolled up 469 yards, including 304 rushing on 39 carries divided among nine Dawgs. But to nitpick: UGA still lost the turnover battle, with one interception from Logan Gray and no turnovers forced against an FCS offense. Granted, the Golden Eagles only had 47 offensive snaps in the game, but Georgia's problems in forcing the other team to give up the ball early continued. The Dawgs are dead last in FBS with six turnovers forced. That's two behind the four teams tied for 116th and 21 back of No. 1 Ohio.

WHEN GETTING THERE IS ALL THAT MATTERS
Kentucky 37, Eastern Kentucky 12

Kentucky's probably happy to outgain anyone by 180 yards this season, particularly given the fact that their starting lineup has begun to look like an Alamo movie after the Mexicans attack. But a 25-point win over a 5-4 FCS team is still not the kind of game you expect from an SEC East team with bowl aspirations. This is part of why Kentucky schedules games like these; the only way for a team like the Wildcats to make the postseason in one of the toughest divisions in college football is to load up on the empty carbs of cupcakes. But UK still allowed Eastern Kentucky to rush for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. The win still counts -- which is more than some SEC teams can say about their confectionary victory this week -- and Kentucky will in all likelihood defeat Vanderbilt this weekend to clinch bowl eligibility. That doesn't make them a good team, and the results Saturday just prove that.

THEY ALL COUNT THE SAME. EXCEPT WHEN THEY DON'T
Ole Miss 38, Northern Arizona 14

This game literally doesn't count. Well, it technically does serve as Ole Miss' sixth victory on the year. But because the Rebels have already played one FCS team this year, they still need a seventh win to get to a bowl game. So why even go through the exercise? Was there not a single Sun Belt or MAC team willing to jettison some other game to play the Rebels after Ole Miss found themselves lacking a 12th opponent? In any case, Ole Miss might not want this game to count. It wasn't one of the team's finest hours. The Rebels only outgained the Lumberjacks 425-354, lost the time-of-possession battle by more than 10 minutes and were still tied with Northern Arizona late in the second quarter. Under normal circumstances, Ole Miss might be able to comfort itself by saying a win's a win. But what do you say when you can't even resort to that cliche?

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Tuesday (11/10/09) Edition

WVUIE97 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:08:44 -0000

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, brought to you today by Falls City Beer. We're up to 15.

I want to first apologize to anyone who thought that my little diatribe yesterday was aimed at them. It was meant as a personal resolution for me to not to try to impose my views on anyone. I think it probably came across as high handed and that was the farthest thing from my intention. Can you ever forgive me? I try to be a voice of reason, not an antagonist. Anyway....we've got a big game this Friday. Let's show the Bearcats what Mountaineers are capable of when we rally together. I can always use your tips, suggestions and requests. See you after the jump...

What You May Have Missed:

Stew's Views: UC Lookahead - BlueGoldNews.com

Gold and Blue Report for Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM

Football: Miller Earns Big East Honor - MSNsportsNET.Com

Louisville Award Winners - MSNsportsNET.Com

WVU Varsity Sports Report - BlueGoldNews.com
News from around the non-revenue sports in Morgantown.

Women's Soccer NCAA Bound - WVMETRONEWS.COM

30th Anniversary - MSNsportsNET.Com
Memories of Old Mountaineer Field. Dad swears he took me to a game there once, but I was too young to remember it now.

On The Mark: Week 10 - ESPN

News of Note (FB):

Pike will be Cincy QB if he's 'fully healty' - Charleston Gazette

Cincy Coach Not Ready to Commit on Quarterback - WVMetroNews.com

Cincinnati offense tall task for WVU - Charleston Daily Mail

Where Mountaineer fans unite in Cincinnati - 'Eers to the Ground/PPG
If you're going to the game this week, stop by the Stanchek family owned bar and grill.

Developing the Pass Rush and Recovering From Injuries - WVMetroNews.com

W.Va.'s Devine, Brown should be ready for Cincy - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Huge game looming for WVU, Cincy - Times West Virginian

Initial Thoughts: Cincinnati - WVIllustrated.com

Video of Interest:

Thanks, as usual, to the folks at WVIllustrated.com.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Thanks to Colin Dunlap's Blog for leading me to this one:

Sports Gallery of the Week:

via cdn.guyism.com

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown is a former Baywatch babe. I present Miss Angelica Bridges.

via slike.oglasibalkan.com

Falls City Beer image via i139.photobucket.com

To the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss is UCLA Redux

Hooper — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:32 -0000

by Wade Payne - AP

(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

View full size photo »

Emotions around Rocky Top are burning brightly after the Tennessee Volunteers drilled the Memphis Tigers 56-28 in Neyland Stadium (in a game that was nowhere near as close as the score would indicate). After rolling up a 49-7 lead with 12 minutes left in the third quarter, the Vols began pulling starters for injury insurance and for backup experience, giving Memphis nearly a full half of 'garbage time' scores. (And were it not for a pass interference call on what was otherwise a failed 3rd down attempt by Memphis in the first half, that score could very well have been 49-0.)

Over the last few weeks, we've seen the Vols put together a string of very nice games, starting in the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers when Jonathan Crompton and the wide receivers finally got on the same page. Since that point, the passing game has been very effective, and even put the Vols in position to try to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide on their own turf. Against the Georgia Bulldogs, Crompton earned the national player of the week award in a game that may ultimately prove to be the final nail in Willie Martinez's Athenian coffin. Against both the South Carolina Gamecocks and Memphis Tigers, Crompton threw zero interceptions and a flurry of early touchdown strikes to put the game out of reach.

But despite all the (very valid) reasons for exuberance on The Hill, Tennessee would be very wise to learn a lesson from the beginning of the season - that maintaining improvement is as difficult as gaining improvement.

In week one of the 2009 season, the big question surrounding the Vols was whether the offense would be competent. After the Emo-riffically bitter memories of the 2008 season, fans (and, most likely, teammates) were not certain that the players on offense would be able to meet their recruiting expectations and reliably move the ball down the field. Lane Kiffin was also seen as a new variable - with little head coaching experience under his belt (and none of it at the college level), there was always the risk that he was in over his head.

And then came the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers:

FULL SCREEN VERSION

So yeah, even though Western Kentucky was the newest member of 1-A football and had 57 team members who were true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, or sophomores, we were just a little bit giddy about this whole 'scoring points' thing. Sure, we recognized the qualifiers involved, but feeling good is a powerful drug. It was enough to have the fans perhaps a little too confident going into the UCLA Bruins game in week 2.

The problem was that we couldn't know how bad Western Kentucky really was. How bad are they this year? Well, so far, they're undefeated. In Rocky Top Talk's computer ranking methodology, they're the worst team in the NCAA by a hideously long margin, scoring a -195.3 after 10 weeks of action. (For reference, Florida leads with a +148.9 and the highest numbers seen by our computers are in the +150s. The second worst team is Eastern Michigan at -160.7.) Western Kentucky's best metric is currently their total offense, which is still a full standard deviation below the NCAA average.

And that's exactly where Western Kentucky can teach us a lesson today.

In the Western Kentucky game, the Volunteers pulled out to a 35-0 lead in the third quarter before beginning to pull out the defensive starters. Very shortly after that, Western Kentucky put together their first and only scoring drive of the game. Incidentally, this was the same trend exhibited in the Memphis game - once starters began resting, the defense began giving up ground and points. Likewise on the offense, as starters came off the field, efficiency dipped. (It was somewhat hard to see in the Western Kentucky game because their defense was so bad and so tired, that they were no longer able to contain basic clock-killing off-tackle runs.)

And the gains game in the same manner: plays designed to get the ball around the edge of the offensive line. Western Kentucky achieved this through option plays on the left end of the offensive line; Memphis achieved it through wide receiver screens and cutback runs. In both cases, the defensive edges ceded ground with the backups in place.

And looking forward, the Mississipipi Rebels present a similar challenge to the Vols that UCLA did - a team with some particular talent on the defensive line and an ability to create turnovers. But offensively, the Rebels have one thing the Bruins didn't - an offensive threat on the edge in the form of Dexter McCluster.

Here is where we have to remember that Memphis is not as good of a team as we'd like to hope they were. In our computers, they rank #111 out of 120 1-A teams - in the same company as Florida Atlantic and North Texas. The qualifier is very valid here. Additionally, Ole Miss is a team with more potential than they have shown on the season, with some very good talent in the right places that just hasn't come together as it should. And where UCLA ranks #45 in our computers, Ole Miss is #31 - just three spots behind the Volunteers themselves.

Yes, Ole Miss is a team that Tennessee should beat, all things going towards expectations. But this is a road game against a team that still needs another win for bowl eligibility (only one win against 1-AA competition can count toward the 6 wins mandatory for bowl appearances) and still hopes to salvage what has been a very disappointing season, based on the media's reflexively unrealistic expectations. With a win against Tennessee, Ole Miss still has a shot at #2 in the West, which can be the difference between the Liberty Bowl and the Cotton Bowl.

We took UCLA for granted early in the season; we should not do the same with Ole Miss. And even if the fans do (as we are prone to doing), the team better not.

Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Memphis Tigers

Joel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:36 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Browse more photos »

Best beginning. David Oku, who took the opening kickoff 69 yards and set the tone for the entire game.

Best stat. Jonathan Crompton, who now leads the ~~lead~~ league and is fourth in the nation in touchdowns. He's thrown more than Tim Tebow. More than Jevan Snead. More than anyone in the best defensive league in the nation.

Best old school. Bryce Brown, for going up over the top of the pile for the team's first touchdown. Kiffin called it "Goal Line Launch."

Worst beginning. Memphis, who failed to connect on its first snap of the game, the ball sailing over the QB's head for a 12-yard loss.

Best film study. Eddie Gran, who noticed during the week that one of of the Tigers doesn't watch the ball on kickoffs, which set up the Vols' onside kick. And we would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for an exceptionally close offisdes call.

Best return to action. Chris Walker, who played against his hometown team after sitting out for an extended period nursing a sore back.

Worst missed opportunity. A touchdown pass to Walker, which Kiffin said they had planned but didn't get a chance to call because they "didn't get to the right spot." I wonder what that was all about. That would have been special.

Best idea. Kiffin, who avoided a letdown by his players by leading by example and calling an exceptionally aggressive game in the first half.

Best attitude. Nick Stephens, who sometime during the first half went to Condredge Holloway to ask him what the touchdown record was because he wanted to see if Crompton could break it.

Best almost. Eric Berry, who finally got an interception with his legs under him and searched frantically for a hole leading to fifteen yards and the NCAA record for interception return yards. He found only six.

Best overused analogy. Kiffin's comparison of Crompton to a Jugs machine, which must have happened five times on the Lane Kiffin Show.

Best trick that worked. The fake spike play with time winding down, which led to a surprised defense and Crompton's QB sneak for a touchdown.

Best play, offense. Denarius Moore's first touchdown, where he got his fingertips on a laser from Crompton, bobbled the ball, dove for it on the run against coverage, and did a somersaulting dive into the end zone for six.

Best tackle, I. C.J. Fleming on one of Memphis's kickoff returns. The returner looked like he was going to get the corner against several Vols in pursuit with bad angles, but Fleming came out of nowhere with a perfect angle and put him on the ground by taking his legs out.

Best tackle, II. Fleming again on an end around, again taking the ball carrier's legs out from under him and this time treating the guy to a full sprawling head over heels cartwheel through the air.

Worst finish. The backups in the second half, especially the defensive backups, who ended up allowing Memphis a dump truck full of yards and 28 points for the game.

Best play, defense. Berry's interception, one that featured him pulling a tipped ball out of the air on the run and slithering back and forth several times sssssssearching for that elusive record.

Player of the game, offense. Jonathan Crompton, who went 21-27 for 331 yards and five touchdowns, added another TD on the ground, and did it all in one half and one drive.

Worst innovation. The Sunday Sports Sound Off with Jimmy Hyams (or whatever it's called), which decided to try to double its money-making potential Sunday morning by playing two commercials at the same time during one of their breaks. It was actually hilarious.

Whatcha got?

Tennessee-Memphis animated drive chart

Joel — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:00:59 -0000

FULL SCREEN VERSION

SB Nation - Memphis Tigers

KENTUCKY vs. TENNESSEE: It Doesn't Get Any Bigger Than This

The Sad Truth: 2009 Will Go Down As the Year the Colorado Buffaloes Blew It

Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC

It's That Time of Year Again: Bud Foster to Memphis?

What's your reaction to Bud Foster's interest in the Memphis head coaching job?

Panic!

VT will make him HCIW to avoid his departure

Bud will leave VT after 2009, but not for Memphis

This means nothing

National News and Notes

The King of the West is Dead; Long Live the King of the West -- Alabama Clinches and Other Week 10 Action

The Shotgun/Throwdown: Tuesday (11/10/09) Edition

What You May Have Missed:

News of Note (FB):

News of Note (BB):

Recruiting:

Around the League (and Beyond):

Video of Interest:

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Sports Gallery of the Week:

Miss Throwdown:

To the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss is UCLA Redux

Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Memphis Tigers

Tennessee-Memphis animated drive chart