During the #10 Arkansas - Vanderbilt football game Saturday afternoon, Arkansas gunner Marquel Wade LAID OUT Commodores' punt returner Jonathan Krause - so much so that Krause was writhing in pain after that hit.
Deservedly so, Wade was ejected from the game - you can see in the above video that he was showboating, taunting and gloating after his hit - UNCALLED for in this day and age of football safety.
The play reminded me of a similar hit the Carolina Panthers gunner Dante Wesley made on punt returner Clifton Smith. The only difference was that a fight did not break out in this weekend's college football game.
What I am really enjoying about this Redskins draft is the way the Redskins are doing their business - the Bruce Allen + Mike Shanahan method - of trading back picks to fill in the multiple holes both on offense and on defense. I am so used to the Vinny Cerrato + Dan Snyder method of picking players on where they are at and becoming busts - because they don't try as hard - the Shanahan system will force these players to earn their spot instead of players with guaranteed money playing half-as-hard for the team. From eight 2011 picks to now 12, the Redskins are moving against what they normally do during the draft and instead trying something new.
1st Round Pick (#16 overall)
OLB Ryan Kerrigan
A great pick-up by the Redskins, who trade their #10 overall pick to the Jaguars for the #16 pick and #49th overall pick. They: a) Did NOT go after fast-falling quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who did not fit their system and b) Solidified a horrible defense with a great pass-rusher. Think the white version of Orakpo.
I am so glad the Redskins did not draft a QB in the first three rounds - like four of the top 12 teams in the draft were doing on Thursday night. The common Redskins/NFL fan would be like: "WTF? Why aren't the Redskins drafting someone like Ryan Mallet or Collin Kaepernick? Are they stupid? Let's fire Shanahan and Snyder and Allen. They can't be resorting back to Rex Grossman again, can they?"
My answer, along with the Redskins coaching/managerial staff, is this: We already have two decent quarterbacks in Rex Grossman and John Beck. None of the passed 2011 QB's seem franchise-worthy and fit our West Coast Offense/Zone Scheme. Don't forget, we traded a player to the Ravens to get Beck, who was a 2nd round pick by the Dolphins. He has talent, and possibly enough to be our temporary franchise quarterback for the future. Just take a look at this video:
2nd Round Pick (#49 overall)
DE/DT Jarvis Jenkins
Using the Jaguars 2nd round pick, the 'Skins picked up a solid defensive line player in Jenkins - ESPN980 has said that two other teams behind the Redskins' pick would have picked up JJ had they not grabbed him. He's Haynesworth without the heavy baggage and complaints. He is great on run defense, but weak on the pass rush. I'm glad they chose him and NOT his teammate defensive end DeQuan Bowers, who has a history of leg problems.
NOTE: The Redskins traded their own second-round, third-round, fourth-round and fifth-round picks for later picks in the draft.
3rd Round Pick (#79 overall) - from Miami
WR Leonard Hankerson
This pick was probably the best and safest pick the Redskins have made in the draft. One of their biggest holes on offense over the past decade was the lack of a big-time tall wide receiver. We tried that with the 2008 draft debacle with both Malcolm Kelly (likely to be released by the team) and Devin Thomas (now with the NY Giants). If Moss returns to the team - a BIG if, since he is a free agent this season - we could go far, with Moss, Armstrong, Cooley and Hankerson as our receivers.
4th Round Pick (#105 overall) - from Houston
RB Roy Helu Jr.
The Redskins traded up a couple of spots ahead in the fourth round to nab Helu. He's most likely the backup to starting running back Ryan Torain and has more of a Darren Sproles/Noel Devine kind-of-feel. He's small, quick and elusive and fits perfectly for the Shanahan zone-running system. The downsides are that he's not Clinton Portis in terms of pass-protection (no one can PP [pass-protect] like CP; and he's not a durable, strong runner that gains yards-after-contact (YAC)).
I don't know much about Gomes, other than that he fills a backup/possible starting position at safety and possible cornerback, and it's the second consecutive Cornhusker pick.
From ESPN Insider: "Gomes is a SS-type player who excels against the run with good angles and technique as a tackler. He will have some limitations on the backend due to lack of fluidity and top-end speed."
5th Round Pick (#155 overall) - from New Orleans
WR Niles Paul
The pick of Paul makes it three straight Nebraska Cornhuskers chosen in a row and the second WR picked in the draft. I really thought the Redskins would go offensive line here, since their big-play threat was filled by Hankerson's pick yesterday. Don't get me wrong - Niles may be just as good of a player, but the Redskins really need to fill their weak offensive line sooner rather than later. The good part about Niles is that he is great in pass/run blocking - a plus for any team's offense and special teams.
From ESPN Insider: "Paul is a big, physical WR with a RB's build who can contribute as a receiver after the catch and bring added value on special teams a returner. However, he is a bit tight as a route-runner and is a bit inconsistent catching the ball outside of his frame."
On Thursday night, two Pacific Athletic Conference (PAC-10) teams squared off - unranked Arizona State Sun Devils and #23 Arizona Wildcats. There were several punts by both teams in this game, but two of them stand out - one by each team. Take a look:
One of the commentators said after the second punt: "Not to be outdone by [Arizona State's] Hankin's 8-yard misskick, [Arizona's] Alex Zendejas goes for gold."
The Heisman Trophy, given to the top college football player every year, has Cam Newton's name written all over it this year. And his Hail Mary play to end the half in the South Eastern Conference (SEC) Championship game just cemented the award.
Cam Newton is the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers - and, with today's dominant 56-17 victory, he led his team to a surprisingly unbeaten season (12-0) and the right to play in the National Championship game in Glendale, Arizona on January 10, 2011.
Despite all of the misfortune and off-the-field news regarding Newton, he was still able to lead his team game-after-game to victory.
The Play of the Week goes to the Oklahoma State defense (I know, it's a surprise when a Big-12 defensive play is noteworthy) and Broderick Brown. (Note: you normally see this in the backyard, not during a college football game)
If you have not heard of Torrey Smith, let me fill you in. He's the dynamic sophomore wide receiver for the rising Maryland Terrapins football team - and he had a career performance against the North Carolina State Wolfpack today. Smith had 4 catches, 224 yards and 4 touchdowns - an awesome performance by the standout wide receiver in the final game of the regular season!
Amazing game between then-#4 Boise State Broncos and the #19 Nevada Wolfpack. The Broncos were 10-0, while the Wolfpack were 10-1 heading into the penultimate game of the season.
If Boise State won, they would have a sure-fire chance in the BCS championship game in Glendale, Arizona (the Fiesta Bowl). If Nevada won, they would knock off a prominent #1 contender.
The turning point of the #6 Alabama - #10 LSU game occurred when there was ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, with the Crimson Tide leading 14-13. The Tigers had just come up short on a third-down run - resulting in a fourth-and-one around the Tide 20-yard-line. That's when the 'Mad Hatter' once again pulled a rabbit out of his hat. The common play would be to tack on the field goal and lead by two.
I briefly watched yesterday's West Virginia Mountaineers - Southern Florida Bulls Big East football game yesterday, and saw one play that mystified me. The head coach for the Mountaineers, Bill Stewart, is more of a conservative play-caller. Yesterday, he pulled a Boise State and called for a trick play deep in Bulls' territory - the Hook-and-Ladder. I have seen many H-&-L plays before, but none when only 8 yards near the end zone - too little space; yet, Stewart called the play, and it worked to perfection! That play was the turning point of the game, and the Bulls never came back, losing 20-6.
In today's LSU-Florida matchup - a game between two top-15 teams in college football, we have seen a crazy ending to the match.
The LSU Tigers had a fourth down play at their 40 yard line with 50 seconds to go and down by three. They sent their field-goal-kicking unit onto the field and the Florida Gators' special teams bit on the play - the play was a fake field-goal-attempt, with the holder tossing the ball on a lateral to his kicker, who ran for the first down. But, wait a second. There was a booth review in The Swamp, because the referees were not sure that the toss was an incomplete pass - which would give the ball to the Gators and essentially end the game - or a lateral, which would give the Tigers enough life to stay undefeated.
Side-note: The fake field goal play was VERY similar to another one that took place three years ago against another SEC team - University of South Carolina.
2007
2010
End of Side-Note
We wait for about four minutes - what seemed like an eternity - and the result was a first down for... LSU! They quickly spike the ball with 29 seconds left, then complete a 35-yard pass (a 10-yard catch, with 25 yards after the catch). The offense ended up with a five-yard fade pass for the GW touchdown with six seconds left.
Does Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback Taylor Martinez remind you of another run-first, pass-second Cornhusker quarterback? If you said ex-St. Louis Rams/Green Bay Packers/Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Eric Crouch, then you are correct.
If you were watching the end of the Michigan State Spartans - Notre Dame Fighting Irish game today, then you saw the GUTSIEST call of the year - in ANY sport.
The Spartans and the Irish were tied at 28-all heading into overtime. Overtime in college football is different from regular football, since in the NCAA's, both teams get one possession each during each OT, starting at the opponent's 30-yard line. If one team scores more points than the other team after both possessions, the team that scores the most points wins. If the game is still tied, there are then more OT's.
Back to the game. Notre Dame lost the coin toss, so they had to receive the ball (Michigan State wanted to play defense first, an advantage in college football). They could not make a first down, so they settled for a field goal. 31-28 Fighting Irish.
Michigan State had similar results. Unfortunately for them, the Spartans went backwards, setting up a fourth-and-long from the 31-yard line. Since they had a young, unreliable kicker, Spartans' head coach Mark Dantonio pulled a rabbit out of his hat - he called for a FAKE field goal, in which the holder - typically the quarterback - would pass the ball to the receiver. The play is easier said than done.
The play worked to perfection, and Michigan State won in dramatic fashion, 34-31. Immediately after the game, when being interviewed by ESPN, Dantonio said the play was called:
Unfortunately, there might be some controversy brewing regarding the outcome. The play clock reached double-zeroes right before the snap of the ball, so there should have been a delay-of-game penalty called on Michigan State - making it that much more difficult of pulling off this trick play. See for yourself:
What's your opinion of the final play of the game?
It's a Friday night in my dorm, and I am watching the West Virginia - Marshall game. Throughout, Marshall's defense has dominated - I mean, DOMINATED - this game - until the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. The score was 21-6 Marshall when the West Virginia Mountaineers came storming back with stud running back and future NFL star Noel Devine (who has the most rushing yards in the program's storied history).
(I have to include this video, since it involves my Maryland Terps get thrashed in '07)
The Mountaineers, despite committing costly false-start and holding penalties, still hung on, barely. The drive started on their OWN two-yard-line. With 30 seconds left and ball on the Thundering Herd 10-yard-line (21-13 Marshall during this drive). Marshall's defensive players caused the Mountaineers to backpedal, and time was ticking... 20 seconds left, and the young West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith calls a hurry-up offense while Marshall's players were celebrating. Calm and cool under pressure, Smith lofted a touch pass to the back of the end zone... for a TOUCHDOWN! 21-19, with UWV coming back! They make the two-point conversion to tie the game and send it to overtime.
After watching Maryland's thrilling victory over Navy on Labor Day, I saw a play that caught my eye and reminded me of two plays that happened in the past years in college football. It was a play that was the #1 top play on Tuesday's Sportscenter, and was the #3 play for best college football plays of the opening weekend.
The gameplan for the play was simple - stop Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs and his triple option offense at the goalline. Instead of tackling Dobbs, senior linebacker Adrian Moten pulled a Superman move, sacked Dobbs, and, because of this, startled Dobbs and caused him to fumble. Although Maryland punted on its ensuing possession, the play of the day was made by Moten.
This play reminded me of two similar plays in the past - the one by Roy Williams (the ex-Cowboy, not the current one) - and by ex-Redskin and Penn State alum LaVar Arrington.
Roy Williams
This play was better because:
a) The play was in the offense's own goal-line
b) The ball magically popped into the defensive lineman's hands
LaVar Arrington
This play was just, plain and simple: ferocious. It's like Goliath jumping on top of tiny David in the old tale between the two characters.
I just saw one unbelievable play that occurred in college football today. East Carolina University was against Tulsa University - and boy, what a finish in this high-scoring affair!
ECU was trailing, 49-45, with five seconds left in the game. They had possession of the ball at the Tulsa 33 yard-line. It was fourth-down and ten, but a field goal was unnecessary. The ECU quarterback made a Doug Flutie-esque play... and, well, I'll let you see the finish:
(ECU is in purple)
Unbelievable way to start the opening game and season for ECU... I wonder what's in store for them this season.
From T.O suspected of having an overdose on pills to the St. Louis Cardinals winning the MLB World Series, this has been a wacky year in sports.
In January, we saw the thrilling national championship in NCAA football between the University of Southern California Trojans against the Texas Longhorns. What a game! USC seemed to have the game under control, with Matt Leinart at the helm and LenDale White, not Reggie Bush, running wild. Then came the ultimate turning point in the game. After making a nice catch and run of 31 yards, Reggie Bush tried to lateral the ball to another USC player but ended up coughing up the ball and losing possession. From that point onward, the tide had turned and it was Vince Young's moment to shine. He scored three touchdowns in total, two in the final quarter and the Texas defense stopped the Trojans on a fourth and two from USC's 45 yard line with two minutes left to capture the victory and snap the Trojans' 34-game winning streak.
In February, came the NBA All-Star weekend, where Dirk Nowitski, a seven-foot power forward, won the three-point shooting contest and lil' Nate Robinson, at five feet nine inches, won the slam dunk contest. In the all-star game, King James took charge, leading the East to a come-from-behind victory, 122-120, over the West.
In March, the NCAA basketball tourney was underway, and my, was there a shocker! The number eleven seed in the Washington D.C. region, the George Mason Patriots of the Colonial Athletic Association, went all the way to the Final Four, upsetting #7 Witchita State Shockers first, then #6 Michigan State, then #3 North Carolina, with Freshman Tyler Hansborough leading the Tar Heels, and lastly, beating #1 UConn in overtime before losing to the eventual National Champions, the Florida Gators, led by the powerful center Jokakim Noah. (Who shares the same birthday as me!)
In April, the NFL draft was held. The Houston Texans chose defensive end Mario Williams as the first pick in the draft, a surprising move given that Reggie Bush is a more explosive player. The Denver Broncos moved up from the fifteenth pick in the draft to the twelfth pick to select Jay Cutler, a quarterback out of the University of Vanderbilt. The steal of the draft was a three-way tie: Chicago, with the 57th pick, choosing speedy kick returner and punt returner Devin Hester from the U, Jacksonville, with the 60th pick, choosing pinball Maurice Jones-Drew from UCLA, and New Orleans, choosing Marques Colston, from Hofstra, with the 225th pick in the Draft. All had excellent seasons with their respective teams.
In May, Barry Bonds passed Babe Ruth for second all-time in career home runs, hitting 715 on May 28. Also, the NBA playoffs were at its peak, with the Phoenix Suns coming back from a 3-1 game deficit against the L.A. Lakers to beat them and, in the second round, beating the L.A. Clippers. The best series, though, was between the best two teams in the Western Conference - the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. The Miami Heat advanced to the Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons, and the Mavericks faced the Suns in the Western Conference finals.
In June, the FIFA World Cup started, as well as the NBA Finals. In the World Cup in Germany, the following teams made it to the round of sixteen: Germany, Sweden, Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Ukraine, Switzerland, England, Ecuador, Portugal, Netherlands, Brazil, Ghana, Spain and France. By the semifinals, the teams left were Germany and Italy and Portugal and France. The Germany-Italy game was a game of the ages. Italy ended up winning the entire tourney, defeating headbutting Zinedine Zidane and the French team, in penalty kicks, after the score was tied 1-1 after regulation and overtime.
In July, the Tour de France started, but there was no final victor. The winner, Floyd Landis, tested positive for an illegal substance and had his prize taken away. Also, the MLB All-Star game was played, with the American League coming back from 2-1 to win 3-2, thanks to Texas Rangers' shortstop Michael Young, who won it on a game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth inning.
In August, the NFL preseason and the NCAA football season were underway.
In September, the NFL season started, while the MLB season came to an end. The Chicago Bears held the Green Bay Packers scoreless, 26 - 0, The Baltimore Ravens held the Tampa Bay Bucs scoreless, 27 - 0, sacking the Bucs' QB three times and picking him off three times, The Seattle Seahawks won 9-6, thanks to a last-second Josh Brown field goal, and Peyton Manning defeated his brother, 26-21 in the first week of the NFL regular season.
Sang to the tune of "12 Days of Christmas," this is how the NFL regular season went:
"On the first week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the second week of the season, the NFL gave to me: T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the third week of the season the NFL gave to me: Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the fourth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the fifth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the sixth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the seventh week of the season, the NFL gave to me: A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the eighth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the ninth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the tenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the eleventh week of the season, the NFL gave to me: two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the twelfth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Jason Campbell's first win, two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the thirteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: Four Reggie Bush TD's, Jason Campbell's first win, two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the fourteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: No Colts' run defense, Four Reggie Bush TD's, Jason Campbell's first win, two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the fifteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: LT breaking three NFL records, No Colts' run defense, Four Reggie Bush TD's, Jason Campbell's first win, two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the sixteenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: A Bengals' botched extra-point attempt, LT breaking three NFL records, No Colts' run defense, Four Reggie Bush TD's, Jason Campbell's first win, two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
"On the seventeenth week of the season, the NFL gave to me: A Detroit Lions victory, A Bengals' botched extra-point attempt, LT breaking three NFL records, No Colts' run defense, Four Reggie Bush TD's, Jason Campbell's first win, two 80-yard Lee Evans TD's, Devin Hester's 108-yard TD run, A Nick Novak GW FG against the 'Boys, LT running wild, A Matt Bryant GW 62-yard FG, two Redskins tickets, Reggie Bush's first TD, Santana Moss catching a 68 yard bomb in OT, Chris Simms losing his spleen, T.O. breaking his hand, and Peyton defeating Eli on National T.V."
