Sports

What I learned after week one of college football

Here’s what I learned yesterday after watching week one of college football.

1. Alabama can be beat. I’m not saying that they will be beat. I’m just saying that it is possible. They will improve as the season progresses, but it is significant that their first game this year against an unranked opponent was not as dominant as their first game last year against a ranked opponent. They have weaknesses to shore up—not the least of which is their offensive line. Also, if they can’t defend the run any better than they did yesterday, then they are going to have a tough slog against the rest of their SEC opponents (especially LSU). I still think they’re favored to win it all, but they don’t look as dominant as they did last year at this time. Going forward, this observation may be masked by their weak schedule. We’ll see how that plays out as the season progresses.

2. LSU has an offense. They can pass, and they can run. Mettenberger looks like the real deal. Yesterday’s game was too close for comfort. But if you take away one or two key plays, LSU would have won that one by two or three touchdowns (at least). I no longer think Texas A&M is the second best team in the SEC west. Right now, I think it’s LSU. If they improve in the coming weeks, they’ll have a shot at the division. Their strength, however, may be masked by their unbelievably difficult schedule going forward. They have to play Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, and Georgia. That ain’t no cake-walk. By the way, LSU hasn’t lost a non-conference game since 2002.

3. Johnny Manziel needs an attitude adjustment. Yes, the jawing back and forth with Rice players was ugly. Yes, the personal foul penalty was egregious and selfish. But for me, that wasn’t the worst part of it. The worst part was the disrespect that he showed to his head coach after he walked back to the sideline. Coach Sumlin stepped forward to talk to Manziel, and Johnny Football bumped him and kept walking without even looking at him. I don’t know about you, but where I’m from that behavior is asking your coach to go medieval on you. And I hope Sumlin does. In my view, Sumlin ought not let Manziel start the next game.

4. My beloved LA Tech lost big to NC State. NC State! Looks like 2013 won’t be a break-out year for the Bulldogs like 2012 was. Ah, such is life. How bout them dawgs?

5. Tim Tebow, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart have all been cut from NFL teams. There are different reasons for these cuts, but the one that bothers me most is Tebow. I hope some team picks him up. [I know this isn’t technically college football, but indulge me a little.]

8 Comments

  • Matt Svoboda

    Ah, yes… I knew Clemson beating Georgia wouldn’t be mentioned.

    Clemson has now beat LSU and Georgia two games in a row. Looks like they are happy to mess with the SEC.

  • Lynn Burgess

    Love that Tebow guy…

    FYI – I have been following him fairly closely and several “in the know” expect the Patriots to recall him later in the season.

    Tedy Bruschi had said that Tim was not just a project, but a crusade for Belichick and McDaniels… and then this week he said this just before Tim was actually cut…

    “I could envision a scenario where he is initially cut and not on the 53-man roster, but he comes back at another point down the line. Maybe multiple times, sort of like they did one year with Ross Ventrone. He was on the roster. He was off the roster. He was on the roster. He was off the roster. It sort of depended on the overall health of the team that week if the Patriots could keep Ventrone or had to go in another direction. Receiver Deion Branch has been in that situation, to a lesser degree. I could see Tebow being that guy this season as people in the organization would like to see him around and see if he can continue to be developed.”

    http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4747667/tedys-take-on-tebows-chances

    This is Ryan Mallett’s third year of a four year contract and I am thinking he will not want to sit another five years behind Brady, so the Patriots will likely try to trade him sometime this season and this will be his last year with N.E.

    Here are some other thoughts to encourage us to pray for Tim:

    ———-
    Jeff Howe ?@jeffphowe 12m (Boston Herald Patriots Beat Reporter)
    Heard from a noted Patriot who was surprised Tebow was released.
    ———-
    Todd Headlee ?@ToddHeadleeAZ 5m (AZ fan)
    Stay positive. Injuries, unknown events, and other variables could change things in a good way.#KeepTheFaith
    ———-
    Michael Giardi ?@MikeGiardi 19m (Comcast Sports Net NE)
    As for Tebow, wonder if he stays in area and is brought back at a later date. His character won me over. Disappointed for him
    ———-
    Adam Kaufman ?@AdamMKaufman 14m (Boston.com; 985theSportsHub, etc.)
    Tim Tebow reportedly released. Still think he’ll be back. I’m not giving up that easily!
    ——–

  • Lynn Burgess

    More on Tebow…

    It surely seems like Tim left on good terms with everyone in Foxborough. These are his tweets in case you did not see them. They were conveniently aborted in most media reports.

    Tim Tebow ?@TimTebow 3m
    I would like to thank Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, Coach McDaniels and the entire Patriots organization for giving me the opportunity…

    Tim Tebow ?@TimTebow 4m
    …to be a part of such a classy organization. I pray for nothing but the best for you all. I will remain in relentless pursuit…

    Tim Tebow ?@TimTebow 4m
    …of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback. 2 Corinthians 12:9: And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient…

    Tim Tebow ?@TimTebow 4m
    …for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather…

    Tim Tebow ?@TimTebow 4m
    …boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

  • Stephen Beck

    6. I should have waited to post this article until after the Monday night game, when I could have seen an excellent Heisman candidate who turned down the #SEC to play for Jimbo Fisher!

  • Rusty Shackleford

    If we ever did what Manziel did to a coach, we’d be doing gassers or mountains until we puked. And they we’d be forced to do it again. You don’t act like that. Just another example of how university athletics don’t care about character but about putting butts in seats. (I’ll get off the soapbox now).

    Tebow’s not done yet. I’m still clamoring for him to be transitioned into a tight end. His size and athleticism is superb for that role. No safety or corner is going to be able to tackle him. With Hernandez disposed at the moment and Gronk injury ridden from all these surgeries, I figured the Pats would have maybe tried to develop him into a TE. He’s got good hands and the size for it.

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