USC wins fugly (but das what good teams doooo!)

A perfect storm still wasn't enough for USC to lose to Washington last weekend. I haven't seen Pete Carroll's USC squad get whipped (the 2006 national championship game against Vince Young and Texas was not a whipping) yet. For three-plus quarters, Southern California was teetering toward becoming the sixth and mightiest top-10 team to fall this weekend. Ultimately, the Trojans survived.
If USC is going to be playing LSU for a national championship in January, they'll have to tighten up in several areas.
Stafon Johnson ran for 122 yards and a touchdown and Chauncey Washington added 106 yards and a score as USC overcame its own numerous mistakes and Washington in a 27-24 victory Saturday night.
The Trojans (4-0, 2-0 Pac-10) committed three turnovers and 16 penalties — their most in more than two seasons — for 161 yards and had a missed a field goal and blocked punt. Yet they won for the 60th time in 64 games.
"We were very fortunate," USC coach Pete Carroll said, with a sigh. "We just couldn't get out of our own way. Washington, it was there to take it ... I'm so grateful to have this win." Don't worry, Pete, it won't happen again.
Ty Willingham had his squad ready to play, IN SPITE of a garbage quarterback redshirt freshman Jake Locker. Dude missed three open receivers in or near the end zone for Washington (2-3, 0-3), which lost its third consecutive game and is now 1-9-1 against No. 1 teams — including 0-7 when USC is top ranked. (Willingham still should be at Notre Dame, but that's another post).
Locker finished 12-for-27 with 83 yards passing and one interception, plus another 50 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns.
"I need to be a lot better," Locker said.
Added offensive coordinator Tim Lappano, noticeably frustrated by Locker's wildness in what the Huskies feel were winnable defeats to Ohio State, UCLA and now USC: "We got to settle him down."
Locker's final TD came after a blocked punt and with 34 seconds left.

LSU takes over No. 1 in poll: But USC DIDN'T LOSE. Is it fair?

LSU is No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since Nov. 2, 1959.
The Tigers edged past Southern California in the AP Top 25 on Sunday, even though the Trojans remained undefeated (they won fugly, but they won). But is it fair? Personally, I don't think so.
I think the voters were caught up in the wily shifting of the top 10 after an infamous day in college football: Five of the top 10 lost; Oklahoma, Florida, Texas and Rutgers and West Virginia all went down. But to rob USC of its No. 1 ranking just because they were sloppy, that aint cool. LSU has been hella sloppy in a 34-9 win over Tulane. Senior Matt Flynn was sacked 6 times and LSU trailed 9-7 with 2 minutes left in the half. USC's 27-24 victory at Washington on Saturday night really wasn't as close as it sounded. USC did all it could to lose the game, actually including getting a punt blocked and interception by Louisiana native David Booty. Things had to go awfully wrong for USC to lose the game, and they almost did (a ball bounces right off a USC receiver's hands right into the hands of a Washington defender??). LSU didn't beat a worthy-enough opponent to move to No. 1, and I'm a fan.
USC is the first team to lose the No. 1 ranking after a victory since Nov. 3, 2002, when top-ranked Miami dropped after beating Rutgers 42-17 and No. 2 Oklahoma moved up after a 27-11 victory over No. 13 Colorado.
LSU, which recovered from its own first-half malaise to beat Tulane 34-9 on Saturday, received 33 first-place votes from the media panel and 1,593 points. USC got 32 first-place votes, 11 fewer than last week, and 1,591 points.
This just loudens the call for a college playoff system, which I'm all in favor for.
The voting was the closest since the second poll of the 2002 season, when Miami and Oklahoma tied for No. 1 and each received 27 first-place votes.
Next up for LSU, Florida and Tim "Superman" Tebow.

LSU pops Tulane, but flaws exposed

Time to put it out there: Matt Flynn has been shaky. He's not played bad this year, but he just hasn't played great. Not against Virginia Tech, not against South Carolina, and not against Tulane. He got sacked 6 six times against Tulane this past weekend. SIX! Let me make this clear: LSU’s offense is not potent (40 points a game?). It just gets alot of possessions. A great defense will do that for you.
Ryan Perriloux will get significant P.T. against Florida. Write it down. Tulane exposed some major flaws the Tigers have, none as big as protection for Flynn.
In the first half, Tulane gave them all they could handle, trailing 10-9.
"We saw the offense put their heads down," LSU defensive end Kirston Pittman said. "But we went over and told them, ’Pick y’all’s heads up. It’s going to be a long game. They have to play for 60 minutes. We just have to overcome a little adversity.’"
Jacob Hester’s second touchdown of the game and Charles Scott’s pair of scoring runs helped LSU (5-0) amass 24 unanswered second-half points in a 34-9 victory Saturday.
"It was a mental thing today," Scott said. "We were not focused at all in the first half. And we can’t come out and do that with anybody, especially not Florida."
The defending national champion Gators had their own problems with Auburn
Saturday night, losing 23-20 in the final seconds. But the Gators come to Baton Rouge next weekend in a must-win for them if they still have national title hopes.
"It’s obviously not what we wanted, but I think it could be good for this team to come out here and get a little bit of a wake-up call," Flynn said. "This team stepped up."

“Guys were thinking a little ahead,” LSU receiver Brandon LaFell said, “trying to dress all fancy because we got new uniforms, and their minds weren’t in the game in the first quarter.”
LaFell said Tulane players were jumping up and down, calling LSU overrated as the teams headed to their locker rooms at halftime in the Superdome.
“That’s why we came out so hard in the second half,” LaFell said.
Still recovering from an ankle sprain, Flynn was inconsistent in the face of constant pressure and was intercepted once. Yet he shook off six sacks to throw for 258 yards.
Tulane, which has lost 16 straight to LSU since its last victory in the series in 1982, played with emotion and made it a better game than anticipated.
“Thank goodness the defense played well the entire game,” coach Les Miles said, “except for a few spots late in the first half and maybe a little in the second half, but if they hadn’t played well it could have been a long night.”

SUPERMAN IS DEAD: Tebow, Gators lose to Auburn (Somebody say Krytonite?)

Superman is dead.
Super sophomore Florida quarterback Tim Tebow played like the Man of Steel this year, but his cape was ripped from him and stomped on by the Auburn Tigers last night, who beat the Gators 23-20 in the Swamp.
That makes Tommy Tuberville Lex Luther, or somebody from the ancient planet of Superman's birth, Kryton. Either way it's a big W for the Tigers and a huge L for the Gators.
Florida played most of the game with a fat zero on the scoreboard before a second-half flurry tied it at 14 then they scored 3 more(only after Quentin Groves, the Tigers' best linebacker, was knocked out of the game with an injury).

Auburn's quarterback Brandon Cox was the game's biggest beneficiary: He actually played like a major college quarterback for a change. Auburn would need it. After they lost their big lead thanks to a bunch of long heaves by Tebow, Auburn recomposed itself and relentless, violently marched down the football field in field goal range.
Auburn true frosh kicker Wes Byrum had to make two 44-yard field goals in the final seconds, not just one (clever boy Urban Meyer stole a ploy by the Denver Broncos in Week 2 to beat the Oakland Raiders by calling a timeout a half-second before the kick, making the field goal kicker do it again after the timeout).
Meyer would be on the hot seat if Byrum would have missed the first field goal attempt , which wouldn't count due to the timeout, then made the second one. Alas, he made 'em both and sent Gator fans' jaws dropping in despair and instantly sent Tebow looking for a phonebooth, and a pair of glasses. Incidentally, Tuberville was seen after the game putting a green rock-like crystal into his right-front pants pocket before walking to the middle of the field and shaking hands with Meyer. Tubby, you devil, you.
And we thought you were done.

Soledad O'Brien's Katrina Video

WEEK 4: LSU faces Tulane

SU may be tempted to look ahead to Florida next week, but I doubt they're taking the Green Wave lightly.
What to look for when LSU has the ball: LSU has adapted the two QB offense with great success. Fifth-year senior Matt Flynn is the starter, while redshirt sophomore Ryan Perrilloux also gets significant playing time. LSU wide receiver Early Doucet has not practiced this week, but LSU coach Les Miles said he was encouraged by Doucet's efforts at trying to come back from a groin injury he suffered on Sept. 14.
"He's making very good progress. He's winding into health and shape. We're optimistic," Miles said.
LSU has a stable of backs that have been running the ball well, namely Jacob Hester and Keiland Williams.
WR Brandon LaFell has picked up Doucet's slack in his absence as the Tigers passing game continues to churn.
Senior Antonio Harris is the unquestionable leader of Tulane's defense. He has started EVERY GAME of his career. Last week, he had a career-high 11 tackles, four for a loss and three sacks. Harris aside, the Wave's defense is filled with holes.
What to look for when Tulane has the ball:RB Matt Forte was offensive player of the week last week when he rushed for 303 yards and five touchdowns in Tulane's win over Southeastern Louisiana.
Forte's impressive performance broke Tulane and Conference USA records. But that was Southeastern Louisiana; this is LSU.
This LSU defense leads the nation in four categories. The Tigers are No. 1 in scoring defense (5.75 points a game), total defense (161.5 yards a game), rushing defense (26.75 yards a game) and pass efficiency defense (67.69 rating).
LSU's rush defense is allowing less than a yard per carry and has allowed just 107 yards total, which is the best through four games since the 1969 team allowed 84 yards through the first four games. The 1969 team holds the school record for fewest yards allowed in a season with 389. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson are anchors on the nation's best D-line. They returned all three starters at linebacker (namely Ali Highsmith) as well as both CBs. SS Craig Steltz also leads the nation in INTs.
No. 2 LSU (4-0) plays Tulane (1-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Superdome in New Orleans on ESPN2. PREDICTION: LSU 38 - TULANE 9

Spurrier accuses LSU of 'dirty play'

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier just won't leave last week alone. Days before his team is to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs, he says that LSU tried to punish Gamecock players with helmet-to-helmet hits by LSU blockers on a punt return Saturday in the Tigers’ 28-16 victory against the Gamecocks.
“There was no helmet-to-helmet contact,” LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday during a Southeastern Conference teleconference.
But Spurrier saw it differently.
“You guys need to go watch the tape,” Spurrier told reporters.
NCAA rules prohibit “spearing,” the use of a helmet to butt or ram an opponent in an attempt to punish him.
“No,” Spurrier said after his a reporteer asked him if he thought LSU played dirty. “LSU, I thought, played fair. There’s no problems except for that one punt return when they had a few clips there, but anyway … .”
The play in question was when an illegal block in the back against LSU negated Mitchell’s 78-yard punt return into the end zone midway through the second quarter.
“They had a couple of helmet-to-helmet hits on that punt return,” Spurrier said in his initial response. “They had about five (penalties) on that one.”
A handful of penalty flags littered the field during Mitchell’s return.

ANOTHER PLAY SPURRIER DIDN'T LIKE:

The metamorphosis of Drew Brees .. into Aaron Brooks

You saw the familiar lame duck throw late last year, against Washington. Saints QB Drew Brees gently lofted the ball over the line of scrimmage - and it was picked off. It was a play Saints fans had got accustomed to over the past 5 years. After all, he was New Orleans Saints' all time leader in touchdown passes with 120. He also played for the Green Bay Packers behind Brett Favre for a time.

In 2001 he emerged as NFL's top quarterbacks with 98 touchdown tosses over that span and over 3,500 yards each season. Has 16 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, including five in 2004. His name was Aaron Brooks.
Brees is slowly, but surely, turning into him. The bad decisions, the completely lame interceptions. Brooks is the only Saints quarterback to rush for over 100 yards in a contest (108 vs. San Francisco, 2000-12-10). In 2004, Brooks set club marks for attempts (60) and completions (34) in a contest. The good days, not unlike last year for Brees and the Saints, came very early. After that it was a slow and agonized descent.
The transformation has been painful. To be sure, this 0-3 after the Titans forced 5 turnovers isn't completely Bree's fault. The offensive line's protection struggles have derailed the deep passing game. The running game was on empty, even before Deuce McAllister's knee injury. Brooks' decision making, exhibit A being the infamous backwards pass thrown to an offensive lineman in a 2004 loss in San Diego, was the last straw according to New Orleans fans. To exacerbate the problem, Brooks wore a cavalier attitude, a broad smile shone across his face after each of his mistakes. Drew Brees, considering the juxtaposition of his play against that which had been witnessed during the six years Aaron Brooks wore the black and gold, was heaven sent - for a while.
And head coach Sean Peyton — who could seemingly do no wrong with his play-calling in 2006 — can't call a first down much less a touchdown.
Brees connected with favorite target Marques Colston a few times but nobody else stood out. After finishing 10-6 in 2000 (including their first playoff win, against nemesis St. Louis Rams)in 2001, the Saints only went 7-9. It's a familiar refrain for the Saints. Was last year's 10-6 season a fluke? Is Brees a fluke? Should he be benched? The backup quarterback Jamie Martin has been known to throw the deep ball, and that's all the Saints need to get defenders to play them honest. Brees has been afraid to throw deep this year for some reason. Is his shoulder alright? Questions abound.
Last year, Brees had a productive year. He threw a league-leading 4,418 passing yards, finished third in the league with 26 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions and a 96.2 passer rating. This year he'll be lucky to get 20 TDs to go with his 13 projected INTS. Brooks played in only eight games during the Oakland Raiders' dismal 2-14 season last year. Oakland ended the season with nine straight losses, and Brooks was often seen running for his life. On February 22nd, 2007, the Oakland Raiders declined to reinstate Brooks for a second season. He is now out of football entirely. What's wrong with Drew Brees? He now leads the league with seven interceptions (SEVEN) to only one touchdown. Two of his errant passes have been TDs for the other team. What's wrong with Drew Brees, and is the metamorphosis complete? Because if he changes into Bobby Hebert I'm leaping off the bandwagon.

Quotes from Week 4 around the SEC

There were heavy hits all over the field, including one in which Craig Steltz flattened Jared Cook to break up a long pass over the middle. Cook stayed down for a couple minutes before coaches got him up and off the field.

"We just tried to dislodge them from the ball. If we can't catch it, nobody can."
- LSU safety Craig Steltz, after leveling South Carolina receiver Jared Cook, who lay motionless for several seconds after the hit.


"It was pretty close until then and that just put another dagger in them. It always works (in practice). We felt confident with it. I've been playing soccer all my life, but I also can catch footballs."
- place kicker ColtDavid, after his fake field goal-touchdown run.


"We had to try something different. Blake Mitchell "maybe didn't do all that poorly, but we had to give (Chris) Smelley a chance. We're going to give him a chance next week and see what happens."
- Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier on why he replaced his starting quarterback with the backup.


“We’re not anxious to play L.S.U. again.Let’s put it that way.”
- Steve Spurrier said.



No. 22 Georgia beat NO. 16 Alabama in dramatic fashion on Saturday, 26-23 in overtime, before 92,138 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Saban-haters are on in full force, and it'll only be a short time before the Tide turns against Saban, probably before the showdown with LSU on Nov. 3. But, you've got to be happy for Georgia, perennially to 2nd and 3rd place among SEC bigdogs.
“It’s huge for us,” Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “We’re young. It’s big to win in the SEC anywhere, especially on the road in a place like this where it seemed like there were 200,000 people. It’s big for us in terms of morale.”

“I think the biggest difference in the game was in terms of time of possession and the ability to keep the ball.” - Alabama coach Nick Saban

Tim Tebow, err, Superman, accounted for all of the Gators touchdowns Saturday, proving his worth. Ole Soup threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for two scores, as third-ranked Florida held on for a 30-24 victory over Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Tebow completed 20-of-34 passes for 261 yards and ran for 166 yards on 27 carries for the Gators (4-0, 2-0 SEC), who played on the road for the first time this season.
"They played very well against us on defense. They forced us to show immaturity and make some mistakes. They played hard. I admire the way they do things. It was a tough win." -Florida head coach Urban Meyer.
"Obviously we are disappointed with the loss. But we put ourselves in a position to win. We came back and fought. We gave us ourselves a chance on the last drive, if we had just made some plays. We just didn't get it done. It was a good effort by the team. We made some improvement after a very tough week. We showed some leadership. I am proud of that. Florida is a good team. They are talented. We are a couple players short."
- Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron.

NFL stats for Week 3: Saints vs. Titans

Thoughts of the SEC as Week 4 approaches

AUBURN'S HURTIN: It used to tickle me last year that Brandon Cox was regarded as a good quarterback and Kenny Irons was seen as just an okay running back in the wake of Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams' departures to the NFL. Now that Irons has went on to greener pastures in pros as well, Cox is being exposed as an overrated stickpin. And Tommy Tuberville is feeling all alone, as he looks around him and sees no blue-chippers. Ole Tubby is on a island. Has it escaped anyone's mind that Tubby has avoided the criticism that Lloyd Carr received from losing to App State in Week 1, even though Tubby should be 0-3 right now, instead of 1-2? Last week against Mississippi State, Tuberville finally realized that the problem is under center, not the defense, although it could be better. Without a superb O-line, Cox just is not mobile enough to hang in the pocket as Armageddon ensues around him. Tuberville may have hit the panic button too late though; backup quarterback Codie Burns may be more agile but cant' possible right the ship before it runs into at least three more icebergs (Alabama, Arkansas, LSU) along the way. Oh, not to mention this Saturday's game against pass-first New Mexico State. Oh, and believe the hype: Ole Tubby's job is on the line.


FLORIDA AINT GOING AWAY: To LSU fans, the "Florida problem" started as a nagging issue two weeks ago, morphed into a concern after week 2, then became an outright issue last week as they throttled Tennessee 59-20. That's right, Tennessee lost by 39 points. Tim Tebow is nothing short of Superman, and the Second Coming rolled up into one for Florida fans. And he figures to only gain confidence in his passing skills as time goes on. In Florida, we're witnessing something that comes along only about every 20 years: A bonafide superstar college athlete. Not even Reggie Bush, as hyped a collegiate as we've seen in the last decade, is fawned over like Tebow. LSU will have to play disciplined football to win it, regardless of the fact that it's in Death Valley.


'BAMA IS BACK: Ole St. Nick(or, um, Satan, as we call him in these parts) lives in Tuscaloosa and is bringing back memories of a certain houndstooth-crowned one. Nick Saban has quickly transformed the Alabama football into a powerhouse program. Last weekend's last-seconds come-from-behind victory at Arkansas was the coronation. SEC, forewarned: 'Bama's back. Key play in the game: Darren McFadden rides the bench as his team clings to a 5 point lead inside of 3 minutes left in the game. Arkansas coach Houston Nutt would go on to say that his star running back had a "mild concussion," but it's a major coaching error to leave him out of the ballgame when he had been so effective and could have easily been a huge decoy on a playaction (the safety definitely would have stepped up) without taking a hit, or a fake handoff-bootleg or something. Either way, this is Coaching 101.


IN ARKSANSAS, IT'S 2006: The Razorbacks are playing like they won't be intimidated by three straight losses to end last season and last week's last-seconds defeat to the Crimson Tide. Arkansas will continue to ride uber-star Darren McFadden, and you know? He will deliver.And powerful McFadden and fleet-footed Felix Jones are the best running back duo in the nation (since Ronnie Brown and 'Lac Williams at Auburn) and just need a little more solid quarterback play and imaginative playcalling by the coaches to run the table in the SEC. Can they beat LSU? If this game were played early in the second, possibly in weeks 2 or 3 I'd say yes, but with possible national title hopes on the line for LSU I don't see them losing focus that late in the season.

Bowie donates $10,000 to Jena 6, celebrities plan rally

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Calling it a "small gesture," on his behalf, rocker David Bowie has stepped into the Jena 6 controversy by donating $10,000 to a legal defense fund for the six black teenagers.
Bowie's contribution to the Jena Six Legal Defense Fund was applauded by the NAACP. "We are gratified that rock star David Bowie was moved to donate to the NAACP's Jena campaign," National Board of Directors Chairman Julian Bond of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said in a statement. "We hope others will join him."
Thursday will be a big day for the town of Jena, as thousands of protesters are set to march through the town in support of Mychal Bell and five other teen held in an attack on a white classmate at Jena High School. Will they burn the mysterious and majestic "White Tree"? Will the Ku Klux Klan meet the protesters on the streets of Jena?
Bowie, and his African wife, Iman, have long supported civil causes all across the world. The British singer said it was imperative to speak out about what's happening in the Louisiana town. "There is clearly a separate and unequal judicial process going on in the town of Jena," Bowie said Tuesday in an e-mail statement. "A donation to the Jena Six Legal Defense Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented."
A number of black celebities, pretty much organized by author and radio talkshow host Michael Baisden and a handful of other celebrities, have spoken out about the situation and plan to rally Thursday in Jena. "Free the Jena Six Rally and Concert" will feature performances by Lyfe Jennings and David Banner at LaSalle Parish Ward 10 Recreational Park in Jena. Other entertainers include rapper/poet Mos Deaf, comedians Steve Harvey and Rickey Smiley and radio show host Tom Joyner.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said he'll broadcast his syndicated radio show "Keeping It Real," from Alexandria today, then travel about 35 miles to Jena in an attempt to visit Bell, who remains in jail because he is unable to post $90,000 bond. Bell was found guilty on second-degree battery charges June 28 by a six-member, all-white jury. Before the case was overturned by the state 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, his sentencing had been set for Thursday.
The court said Bell, who was 16 at the time of the alleged December 2006 beating, shouldn't have been tried as an adult.
Sharpton says he expects more than 10,000 marchers.

LSU's Miles disses South Carolina players?

Not unlike our nation's president, LSU coach Les Miles stumbles, bumbles and fumbles when he opens his mouth. This week, he pissed off some South Carolina players Monday by stumbling over their names during a news conference.
Gamecocks fifth-year senior Cory Boyd was the poster boy of Miles' lip slips. While complimenting him and the team's running game, no less, Miles called the back "Cory Byrd." That mistake, and others, have not become lost on the Gamecock players as they prepare for Saturday's game against the second-ranked Tigers in Baton Rouge. Boyd and junior Mike Davis are Gamecock running backs, and they're averaging 169 rushing yards a game.
"That's something our strength coaches spoke to us about today in the weight room," Boyd said. "They said the guys don't even know us over there. They act like we're nobodies.
"They're looking over us. I like it. You don't have to know my name."
Miles stuttered through receiver Kenny McKinley's name. He called All-SEC linebacker Jasper Brinkley "No. 52." He didn't attempt all-conference kicker Ryan Succop's name, either.

The Gamecocks noticed. "Hopefully, at the end of the game, you'll understand who Cory Boyd is," Boyd said. "You'll understand who Kenny McKinley is. You'll understand who Jasper Brinkley is.

"And you'll understand these Gamecocks that we have over here, that we're a serious team and we're not a team that you can overlook."

Is LSU more banged up than it's letting on? (Gamecocks await)

As the college football world comes to grips with the balance of power, LSU's fearsome squad may be more banged up than they're letting on: wideout Early Doucet didnt' play against Middle Tennessee and he may not play Saturday against South Carolina. LSU coach Les Miles called his injury "pretty significant." Word on campus is that he evidently suffered a groin injury against Virginia Tech. Quarterback Matt Flynn also didn't play last week because of the ankle injury suffered against Virginia Tech. He is expected to start against South Carolina, though. If Flynn couldn't go they would have to turn the reins over to second-string quarterback Ryan Perriloux, who threw three touchdown passes last week. At this point, he's got more yards and TD passes (6 to 2) than Flynn and probably would give the Gamecocks more problems, limited only in the number of plays he knows how to run. In any event, if LSU is more roughed up than it is admitting then, Virginia Tech really took a larger toll out of them than the nation thought. The win was not as easy and more costly. In any event, Miles has admitted to local media that he is not playing straight when it comes to reporting his team's injuries."If it comes out of my mouth, you use it," he said. "If it doesn't [and] if you root for your team - if in fact this is your team - then you would choose not to report anything not described by me.
"Everything is news, but sometimes news doesn't help your team. I would encourage [the media] to see it my way."
Somebody who won't see it his way is South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier
Spurrier has been coy about his team's chances against LSU, preferring to talk about their SEC East foes instead.
Olde Ball Coach might be still mad LSU didn't hire him when it had the chance to in 1986.

Fantasy numbers Week 2

I love this line from USAToday: "The point became obvious when Derek Anderson was throwing his fifth touchdown pass of the day at the same moment Drew Brees finally threw his first — of the season."
It's true: When the New Orleans Saints can't score until the end of the game, and the Cleveland Browns — CLEVELAND! — explode for 51 points you know that you didn't know what you thought you knew, even two weeks ago.
Welcome to Fantasy Football.
Brees, Marques Colston, Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister are fantasy killers now. It's too late to salvage the damage they've done. The bayou has serious problems on offense, and it's already apparent.
Other Week 2 highlights:

Moving up

•Derek Anderson (328 passing yards, TD)

How many of us thought Kellen Winslow would get 100 yards Sunday? Seriously.

•Jeff Garcia (243 passing yards, 2 TDs). Garcia may be the darkhorse. Good for somebody's bench? Hmmm.

Two of his passts (69- and 24-yard touchdowns) went to wideout Joey Galloway. Galloway may be a good move.

•DeShawn Wynn (50 rushing yards, 2 TDs)

Green Bay clearly does not love rookie Brandon Jackson. Wynn got the big playing time Sunday, although veteran Vernand Morency is lurking.

•LenDale White (64 rushing yards, TD)

It looks like the Tennessee backs are on an elevator ride as White had the big week this time.

Moving down

•Lee Evans (2 catches, 17 yards)

Dial expectations for Buffalo way back. Four catches for 22 yards in two games qualifies as a huge bust.

•Alex Smith (126 passing yards, 0 TDs)

Do not expect his first scoring pass to come next week against Pittsburgh, which has allowed 10 points in two games.

•Thomas Jones (67 rushing yards)

He is averaging 2.8 yards a carry in the first two games, but it is a good time to buy low if you can take the risk.

•Tatum Bell (14 rushing yards)

Detroit's disregard for the running game ruins any hope for consistent value.

THOUGHTS FROM WEEK 2 IN THE NFL

Saints got serious problems
Tampa Bay made New Orleans look like etoufee Sunday, shredding the defense in beating them 31-14. Drew Brees and coach Sean Payton no longer look like they're on the same page, and the Cover 2 continues to befuddle Brees. "There are a lot of issues," said the Pro Bowl quarterback. "Mentally, it's how you approach the game when you step on the field. That's huge."Expectation levels are high — that could be part of the problem. We know how good this offense can be. We thought we had it figured out. We didn't." The defense is nothing special, giving up over 30 points for the second week in a row. Help!

Chad Johnson is a beast. And it's only been two games played, but he'll obliterate any and all receiving yardage records if he keeps up this pass. He was a gangsta out there again Sunday, hauling in 209 yards on a Cleveland team that gave just as it got, and then some.

Brian Bilichick may not have gotten a pass from the media, or Roger Goodell for his spying fiasco last week, but that's okay. Tom Brady's got a helluva pass. And Randy Moss has a pretty good catch, too. New England kicked San Diego, 38-14.


Steve "The Magician" Smith is back to his old ways. He's been a Fantasy Footballer's dream since he entered the starting lineup, and Sunday was no different: 3 TDs as his Panthers fell to Matt Schuab and the HOuston Texans 34-21.

THOUGHTS FROM WEEK 1 IN THE NFL

SAINTS TRY TO FORGET

The Saints face the Tampa Bay Bucs this weekend. They can't fact them soon enough for Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Brees called last week's whipping by the Colts the “longest weekend of my life.”
The 41-10 loss to Indianapolis was in front of a national audience and the season opener for the league.
“Usually the good thing about losing on Sunday is that you get to regroup (on Monday) and you’re back to practice and a few days later, you’re already playing again,” Brees said.
Saints safety Roman Harper said the memory of the Colts’ loss was further from his mind.
“You have to put it behind you,” Harper said. “It’s gone, it’s forgotten. What game are you talking about again?”

PATRIOTS WAS STRAIGHT CHEATIN'

In New England, coach Brian Bilichick can blame himself for allowing his staff to cheat. A team video assistant illegally videotaped the New York Jets' defensive signals during New England's 38-14 victory in the season opener last Sunday -- League Commissioner Roger Goodell slapped 'em a good one though: He handed out one of the stiffest punishments in league history.

He fined Belichick the NFL maximum of $500,000 and ordered the Patriots to pay an additional fine of $250,000. In addition, the team will have to forfeit a first-round pick in the 2008 draft if it makes the playoffs this season, or a second- and a third-round pick if it fails to make the postseason. Currently, the Patriots have five first-day picks in the '08 draft.

RAVENS ARE HURTIN' AND BANGED UP, ALREADY

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, quarterback Steve McNair and offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden all did not participate in team practice for the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday.
Ogden aggravated a hyperextended toe that has been bothering him since last year during Monday's loss to Cincinnati, and is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis. McNair pulled a groin muscle in the first quarter of Monday's game and was removed from action during the Ravens' final drive. McNair stated that he could be a game-time decision for Sunday's contest against the New York Jets. Lewis strained his triceps last week and has vowed to play through the pain.

Foxy Brown big ups Jena 6

Foxy Brown was led off to prison this past weekend, sentenced by a New York judge to serve one year, for wildin' out a few times too many. Before being led away she made it a point to bring attention to a Louisiana case that is becoming a cause celebre. She said this: "This is just a temporary situation. I made my bed and have no problem lying in it. My will is steady. What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger. I think there are greater injustices in America that require our immediate attention, like what's going on in Jena, Louisiana. I will not surrender, I'm fine, free Jena Six!"
She recently completed this long-awaited album "Brooklyn's Don Diva," which will be released Nov. 20 by KOCH Records and Black Hand Entertainment.
Also, read here about the "White Tree" in the Jena 6 case.

Longhorns fan gets balls RIPPED OFF in bar fight against Sooners fan

College football has begun. Sooners ... or later, somebody was bound to get hoit.
Not, hurt, as in ouch. But hoit. As in, AAAAAIIIEIEIGHHHH!!!!
According to police, 32-year-old Texas fan Brian Christopher Thomas walked into Henry Hudson's Pub on June 17 wearing a Longhorns T-shirt and quickly became the focus of football "trash talk" from another regular, 53-year-old Oklahoma fan Allen Michael Beckett. That's all the sides can agree on cuz after a few Natural Lights, it got ugly quick. Thomas' version is that as he got up to leave, Beckett grabbed his crotch, pulled him to the ground — still holding his crotch — with bar patrons jumping in to break it up — while Beckett was still holding his crotch — and finally getting pried apart — while Beckett was still holding his crotch. The exact quote from his lawyer was:"He could see both of his testicles hanging on the outside of his body." Thomas' attorney, Carl Hughes went on to say: "He was wearing a pair of white shorts, which made it that much worse."
It took more than 60 stitches to close the wound, and police interviewed Thomas at a nearby hospital emergency room. Of course, the Oklahoma fan says that the nuts of the Texas fan swang and attacked him, so go figure.
There have been scary bar fights since way back. Fortunately the Texas fan didn't get his nose bitten off like this bar patron. READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE.

Nitpicking LSU: 5 reasons they aren't that good

I love LSU, but experience has taught me that Week 2 of any season has never shown the true mettle of football team. After dismantling Mississippi State and Virginia Tech by a combined score of 93-7 I've found a few cracks in the mighty Purple-and-Gold armor.

1. Matt Flynn can't throw a touchdown in big game.

Sure, he dismantled Miami two years ago, but that was Miami, and that was two years ago. He threw some heat against Mississippi State, but that was State. On his biggest stage so far, against Virginia Tech, Flynn threw ... goose eggs. He ran for a score, true, true. But early in the season is when a qb is supposed to pad his stats. Flynn will find it tough to get TD's in the thick of the SEC schedule. He may end the year with somewhere around 10-11 TDs. The NFL won't be impressed (backup quarterback Ryan Perriloux on the other hand, is on track to throw for 20 TDs).

2. Glenn Dorsey has only 1 sack.

One sack. Is this par for the course for the "best defender in the country"? He got 'em one against Mississippi State, but against Virginia Tech he was kind of quiet. Or was it?

3. LSU's offense can't go 80 yards.

In the first quarter of the Virginia Tech game, LSU drove down and scored after getting the ball on their 13-yard line. But they needed a 15-yard penalty from Tech to do it. Only once in the previous two games has LSU drove 80 yards and scored. Every other time the field has been significantly shorter, especially against Miss. State.

4. Coaching is still suspect.

Let's face it, Les Miles still hasn't coached a victory. LSU has gotten back on sheer power, talent and will. Is it enough? So far, it's been plenty, but early in the second half of the game Virginia Tech brought in their second-string corner back, a Mike Vick-type fellow named Tyrod Taylor. His ability to run caused major problems for the Tigers and he made the total yardage for Virginia Tech kinda respectable (149). If it wasn't for this brilliant coaching move by Beamer, LSU would have held Tech to about 47 yards because Taylor had 44 on the ground and 62 in the air. He had four runs of 10 or more yards against the Tigers, including a 23-yarder, and engineered the lone scoring drive. Passing, he was 7-for-18 for 62 yards.
"Everybody likes his athleticism," Beamer said. "We like the way this kid throws the football too. ... It's going to be a learning process, but he'll learn fast."Still, looking at the game, you kind of got the feeling that LSU and Les was caught flat-footed by the move.

5. The schedule is super-hospitable.

The Tigers can have gumbo after the games against Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina this year, making the road not easy, but easier. While most of the college world has seen their opponents for two weeks and their schedules have gotten harder, LSU's schedule has gotten easier, with no team wanting to come to Death Valley.
Again, this is just nitpicking a Monster. It can't be all perfect, ya know?

Saints lose opener in Indy

Why Cam Cameron will be LSU's next coach (And Les will go to U-M)

Seems there's 6 degrees of separation in the coaching universe that is LSU.
Les Miles is being brought up as the next University of Michigan coach following Lloyd Carr's debacle against Appalachian State last weekend.
See it all starts with Les Miles. He was an assistant at Michigan in 1987, where he met his wife, Kathy. She was an assistant coach for the women's basketball team. They were just friends for more than a year but started dating about a year into the relationship. When they finally scheduled a date, Kathy arrived late. Ole "Lover" Les thought she was standing him up so there relationship kind of cooled. But that's when a colleague, fellow Michigan assistant coach Cam Cameron, jumped in and got the two back together by drawing up a plan of "X's and O's". Cameron and Miles shared an office back then and he was privy to the two's relationship details.
Nearly five years later in 1993 Les and Kathy got married. Cameron was, quite naturally, in the wedding. Also in the wedding as a groomsman was a guy named Gerry DiNardo. DiNardo, who would coach at LSU a few years later, only to be replaced by Sata — I mean, Saban, Nick Saban, met his wife through Les Miles while both were assistants in the 1980s at Colorado. A bitter blow for DiNardo would turn into a certain relief when Les MIles would replace Nick Saban as coach at LSU. Saban would jaunt to the Miami Dolphins. Cameron would then replace Saban at Miami. Got all that?
To add more to the mix, Cam Cameron, before heading to Miami, would land in San Diego as quarterback coach and oversee the rise of a star quarterback in Drew Brees. After Brees injures his arm at the end of the 2005 season he is brought into Miami for workouts — by coach Nick Saban, who doesn't trust his shoulder. We all know how this turns out.
Now, Les Miles will return to Michigan at season's end (with Lloyd Carr as A.D.), Cam Cameron will join LSU and Jerry DiNardo will end up with the Miami job. Got all that (whew!)?

Tigers lick chops awaiting Virginia Tech

Mississippi State quarterback Michael Henig got a special text message after Thursday's whipping by LSU. Henig threw six interceptions and is having the school faithful wonder aloud if he should be the starter. One text he got was from one Archie Manning. It read: "From me, Peyton and Eli, keep your head up."


Before Saturday's game, LSU's band will play Virginia Tech's alma mater after three skydivers land on the field, one bearing a Virginia Tech school flag, one with an LSU flag and the third with a U.S. flag.

After the parachutists arrive, with the band on the field, there will be a moment of silence before the alma mater. After that, a hellacious, old-fashioned pig-whoopin'.


Virginia Tech gained 33 yards on 31 attempts against East Carolina in the season opener. Beamer says he won't change a thing.
"I don't think shuffling right now is the answer; I think getting better is the answer," Beamer said about his O-line. "We've got a pattern and we just need to get better with who we've got. I think we'll go the same way we went last week."

Football families

Football families are in every state, every city, but there are a few households where the pigskin just happens to be not only in the genes, but at the dinner table. Here's a few football families of the modern era that have become household words (no pun intended).
THE BOOTY CLAN
This Shreveport, Louisiana family first hit radar screens across the South when as a junior, Josh Booty became LSU's primary quarterback in 1999. It marked the second Booty on the roster for LSU, Josh's brother Abram was a receiver. That year Abram only caught 26 for 374 yards and 2 touchdowns, second only to Jerel Myers' 854 yards. Booty's best game was LSU's 23-42 loss to #25 Ole Miss, catching 5 passes for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.The Shreveport area had known about the Bootys for some time.
Abram, at Evangel Christian Academy, had 5,867 receiving yards and 83 receiving touchdowns, setting the national high school record.
Brother Josh also excelled in baseball as a shortstop. He is currently a free agent after being waived by the Oakland Raiders. As quarterback in high school, he threw for 11,700 yards and 126 touchdowns, becoming the first high school player in history to throw for more than 10,000 yards (all this despite missing the last four games of his senior year due to a broken hand).
As a result of his performance Booty was named the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year and was named the National High School Player of the Year by at least six associations, including Parade and the Football News.As a shortstop, he was a four-time All-State choice. As a senior, he batted .429 with 20 walks. He was also the starting shortstop for the U.S. Junior Olympic National Team that won the silver medal. He was the 5th pick overall in the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. Then there's kid brother and current USC quarterback John David Booty. He is believed to be the first player ever to leave high school a whole year early to play college football.


THE MANNING FAMILY
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Payton Manning and his younger brother Eli are both star in the NFL. But as kids, the Manning boys had oldest brother Cooper as a target. Cooper, a wide receiver, went to Mississippi but never played a game for the Rebels. A spinal cord disorder left him prone to serious injury. Before that misfortune, Cooper, then a senior at New Orleans Newman High, caught 80 passes from Peyton. Cooper was an all-state receiver twice.


The Faulk brood
Kevin Faulk was highly sought when he came out of Carencro High School in Carencro, Louisiana in 1993. At Carencro, Faulk rushed for 4,877 yards on 603 carries (8.1 yards per carry).
At LSU, Faulk rushed for 4,557 yards in 41 games, which was 2nd best in SEC history behind the legendary Herschel Walker of Georgia (5,259 yards in 33 games).
Although they can't discern immediate bloodlines the Kevin and Marshall Faulk are no doubt related somewhere down the line.
Marshall came to national prominence in one game where he ran all over the University of the Pacific in just his second collegiate start. In 37 carries, he racked up 386 yards and scored seven touchdowns, both NCAA records for a freshman, and built on this performance throughout the year. Faulk was drafted 2nd overall in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, who were in desperate need of a running game. Faulk responded by rushing for 1,282 yards, 11 touchdowns, but was traded to the St. Louis Rams for two low draft picks after 4 years. In this offense he put up some of the best all-purpose numbers in the history of the NFL.

THE CLAUSEN BOYS
The Clausen boys of California are unique in that they all are quarterbacks. The eldest is Casey Clausen who in 2000 entered the collegiate world by played his first game for the Tennessee Volunteers, going 12-of-15 for 133 yards and three touchdowns in a 70-3 romp of Louisiana-Monroe.
As Casey went to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, brother Rick Clausen joined the LSU Tigers as a freshman and was on the squad when LSU upsets the Vols 31-20 in the SEC championship. Their younger brother Jimmy Clausen has caused the Clausen name to be uttered anew as the freshly miinted quarterback at Notre Dame. Jiimmy came to college football with several accolades, one of which is that he's never lost a game he's started (42-0 in high school).
He also holds the California state record for careeer touchdowns (144).

Colts (+6) favorites over Saints

I'm not a betting man, but oddsmakers currently have the Indianopolis Colts listed as 6-point favorites versus the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, while the game's total is sitting at 52.

Team records:
New Orleans: 10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS
Indianapolis: 12-4 SU, 8-8 ATS

New Orleans most recently:
When playing in September are 6-4
When playing on turf are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing outside the division are 5-5

Indianapolis most recently:
When playing in September are 9-1
When playing on turf are 9-1
After outgaining opponent are 6-4
When playing outside the division are 9-1

A few trends to consider:
New Orleans is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Indianapolis
New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Indianapolis
New Orleans is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games on the road
Indianapolis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Indianapolis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Indianapolis is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Indianapolis is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

LSU video: Meet the '07 Defense