Game of the Week: Florida
State 30, Miami 26
It seems to be every week Florida State
first with disaster, but it also seems like every week Florida State is able to
always come out on top. After trailing 26-10, and after an abysmal first half
by Jameis Winston, Florida State and Winston was able to outscore the
Hurricanes 20-3 in the second half. Dalin Cook broke two big runs which proved
to be back breakers for Miami and the Florida State defense figured out “da U”
in the second half despite the gaudy numbers posted by Duke Johnson and
freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya.
But
one has to wonder how long this ‘Seminole Standard’ will last? The schedule
will only be weaker for Florida State throughout the remaining regular season
games and including the conference championship as well. Jimbo Fisher was
adamant in last night’s press conference that he is proud of his team. But even
Jimbo has to wonder if the offense should be tweaked somewhat and less should
be riding on Winston’s shoulders. Look for Florida State to begin to institute
a more ball controlled offense over the final weeks of the season to create a
little more balance to the offense. This change would benefit Florida State
greatly because:
1) Rest and Relax Jameis
Winston: Winston should not be throwing 40+ times a game. He is banged up
and is too prone to be make a big mistake. Slowing the game down for Winston
will provide him better looks (and he likes making only 1-2 looks) and rest his
ankles which clearly seem to be plaguing him.
2)
Keep the Defense off the field: The strength of Florida State lies with the
defense. However if Winston continues to make turnovers and Florida State
continues to go four and out like they have been accustom to doing the past few
weeks, the Seminole defense can get exposed, as any defense can, the more often
they are out there. Florida State has a plethora of future NFL players on that
defense and its about time Florida State began to lean on it rather than
Winston.
It
will be interesting to see of Jimbo Fisher makes any changes to the offense at
all or rides out this rollercoaster season with his Heisman quarterback. But
all can agree right here and now out of all the teams in the Top 4, the
undefeated Seminoles are by far the most vulnerable.
Player of the Week: Melvin
Gordon, RB, Wisconsin (408 rushing yards, 4 TDs)
In
this large Big Ten West Showdown, Melvin Gordon had an epic, even a Heisman
performance for the ages. While throughout the year every college football
enthusiast, including this one, has promoted Todd Gurley as the “Second Coming”
we were all let down to hear about Gurley’s 4-game suspension. But even before
the Gurly-crowning, throughout the suspension, and as yesterday proved, Gordon
deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation. Gordon was able to break the all-time single game rushing
record (previously held by LaDanian Tomlinson) by rushing for 408 yards, and he
did it in just 3 quarters. Melvin Gordon has drawn comparisons to Jamaal
Charles and with performances likes this, look for Gordon to continue to rise
up the draft boards.
Disappointment of the
Week: Notre Dame being Notre Dame
It
seems as if it is every year that Notre Dame suffers a lost that they are not
supposed to. In the beginning of the season Notre Dame was able to sidestep
those ‘Upset Landmines’ but after the close win over Navy and the loss to
Arizona State last week, it seems the writing was on the wall for yesterday’s
game against Northwestern. The Wildcats, who have struggled to score points all
year long (lost to Michigan 10-9), posted 43 points against the Irish in South
Bend. Notre Dame had another 4-turnover performance, none being more costly
than Cam McDaniel’s fumble in the final minute of the game to allow
Northwestern to tie the game an send it into overtime.
Perhaps
the playoff committee knew that Notre Dame would once again fall to a below
average team, or that their average 3 turnover performance over the past seven
games was not “playoff caliber”. Going forward Notre Dame will continue to
battle the same battles they are fighting now. My father, the intelligent and
monk-like wisdom he has always been known to share has always said: “You can’t
run with the big dogs, if you are pissing with the puppies”. Notre Dame cannot
regain their “elite” status as one of the best programs in the country until
they are able to ride themselves of this let-down bug they seem to have every
year. The schedule has got tougher for Notre Dame, but it doesn’t matter if you
are playing the likes of Florida State, Oklahoma, USC etc. if you continue to
lose to Navy, Northwestern, Syracuse or Purdue. If that continues to happen the
playoff committee will never give the love to Notre Dame no matter how
legendary the Irish are.
Game to Watch: USC @
No. 11 UCLA, 8:00 pm, ABC
Its not a great week of College
Football, but that is because Thanksgiving Week is the best week of the year.
But with Arizona State losing to the Beavers yesterday, the Pac-12 South is
wide open now and this rivalry is still one of the best in the sport. The
Trojans and Bruins will battle for a shot at the Pac-12 title and this needs to
be a statement game for both programs. USC needs a statement win this season,
and the Pac-12 South crown if they are going to attempt to regain their elite
status. And as for UCLA, this game was circled in the beginning of the season.
If UCLA is going to hold off USC, and remain the power in the South, UCLA needs
to win this game and Brett Hundley needs this stage to re-emerge as one of the
best quarterbacks in the country. A lot is on the line in this one.
Coach on the Hot
Seat: Bo Pellini, Nebraska
When
was the last time Nebraska had a good win? Its time to start over in Nebraska.
Playoff Prediction:
1. Florida State
|
2. Oregon
|
3. Alabama
|
4. Ohio State
|
1. Florida State: It
is always interesting to watch Florida State, they seem to always have a flare
for the dramatic. Another week another unimpressive game, will the defending
champions please stand up!
2. Oregon: The
week off will not impact their place in the rankings, neither positive or
negative. The committee will probably make the Ducks number 1 with the loss of
Mississippi State. However I am very hesitant to say the Ducks are the best
team in the country.
3. Alabama: Alabama
showed why they are the best. All roads lead to their rematch with Auburn. But
don’t overlook the Dawgs in the SEC Championship if they should get there.
4. Ohio State: The
real story of Tuesday Night will be who gets the 4th spot? Either
Ohio State, TCU or Baylor. I know everyone wants to point to Ohio State’s loss
as being the worst loss of anyone in the Top 10 nevertheless the Top 6. However
this Ohio State team has the most momentum in the country right now and just
seems to get better and better each week. Their impressive win over Minnesota
overshadows TCU’s win over Minnesota earlier in the year, and TCU was anything
but impressive against Kansas.
Don’t Count Them Out
Yet: TCU & Mississippi State
TCU
and Mississippi State still may control their fate. A 1-Loss SEC Team, if the
Bulldogs can beat Ole Miss, may force the committee into putting Mississippi
State into that 4th spot. If TCU keeps winning, the committee has
shown their appreciation for their resume, so the Horned Frogs may get in
instead of the Bulldogs. It will all come down to the Black Friday Matchup
between TCU and a Texas team who has figured out how to score. It may all come
down to Texas.
2015 NFL Mock Draft
Pick
|
Team
|
Player
|
College
|
Position
|
1
|
Jacksonville
|
Randy Gregory
|
Nebraska
|
DE/OLB
|
2
|
Tampa Bay
|
Marcus Mariota
|
Oregon
|
QB
|
3
|
Oakland
|
Leonard Williams
|
USC
|
DE
|
4
|
New York J
|
Amari Cooper
|
Alabama
|
WR
|
5
|
Minnesota
|
Andrus Peat
|
Stanford
|
OT
|
6
|
Washington
|
Cedric Ogbuhei
|
Texas A&M
|
OT
|
7
|
St. Louis
|
DeVante Parker
|
Louisville
|
WR
|
8
|
Houston
|
Brandon Scherff
|
Iowa
|
OT/G
|
9
|
Tennessee
|
Jameis Winston
|
Florida State
|
QB
|
10
|
Atlanta
|
Todd Gurley
|
Georgia
|
RB
|
11
|
Cincinnati
|
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
|
Oregon
|
CB
|
12
|
Carolina
|
Sammy Coates
|
Auburn
|
WR
|
13
|
New York G
|
Mario Edwards
|
Florida State
|
DT
|
14
|
Baltimore
|
Shilique Calhoun
|
Michigan State
|
DE/OLB
|
15
|
Chicago
|
Landon Collins
|
Alabama
|
S
|
16
|
San Diego
|
Markus Golden
|
Missouri
|
DE/OLB
|
17
|
San Francisco
|
La’el Collins
|
LSU
|
OT/G
|
18
|
Cleveland (from Buffalo)
|
Jalen Strong
|
Arizona State
|
WR
|
19
|
Kansas City
|
Devin Funchess
|
Michigan
|
WR/TE
|
20
|
Cleveland
|
Melvin Gordon
|
Wisconsin
|
RB
|
21
|
Dallas
|
Shawn Oakman
|
Baylor
|
DE
|
22
|
Miami
|
Kevin White
|
West Virginia
|
WR
|
23
|
New Orleans
|
Vic Beasley
|
Clemson
|
OLB/DE
|
24
|
Detroit
|
P.J. Williams
|
Florida State
|
CB
|
25
|
Pittsburgh
|
Danny Shelton
|
Washington
|
DT
|
26
|
Arizona
|
Shaq Thompson
|
Washington
|
LB
|
27
|
Seattle
|
Shane Ray
|
Missouri
|
DE/OLB
|
28
|
Indianapolis
|
Ameer Abdullah
|
Nebraska
|
RB
|
29
|
Green Bay
|
Dante Fowler
|
Florida
|
DE
|
30
|
New England
|
D.J. Humphries
|
Florida
|
OT/G
|
31
|
Philadelphia
|
Ronald Darby
|
Florida State
|
CB
|
32
|
Denver
|
T.J. Yeldon
|
Alabama
|
RB
|
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