Monday, October 29, 2012

College Football Review


"Eerbody rip the swag off
'Fore I rip the tag off
Why my pants sag off, cause I'm bloggin' my butt off
Numbers so ugly, Tha WeathaMan so handsome
This the sports anthem, get it, the sports anthem"
- Modified lyrics from this editions song of the moment "Marvin and Chardonnay" by Big Sean


Well, that Saturday slate of games certainly cleared up a few things didn't it? Welcome once again to Tha Weatha Report: College Football Review. Remember last week when I said that we knew absolutely nothing in the world of college football? Well, consider this past weekend a lesson in what is real and what was fake in the NCAA. Take for instance: 

- Georgia, who once was the talk of the SEC East but then went to South Carolina and got molly-wopped, but who is now once again the talk of the SEC East because they went into The World's Largest Cocktail Gathering of a Ton of College Kids and beat Florida who once was the talk of the SEC East but is now just a team with an angry and intense head coach, now controls their own destiny. Follow all of that? Hope so, because my fingers are tired.

- Oregon continues to put up basketball numbers on their opponents, but keep getting treated like Rodney Dangerfield in the BCS standings. Yet the Ducks keep trucking along. "BCS! BCS! That's ok. We'll put up another 70, and they'll move us up in the morning."

- Kansas State keeps riding the back of their defense and their Heisman candidate and looks more and more impressive as the weeks go on. 

- Arizona scoffed at the idea that the USC vs Oregon game was the only Pac-12 game that mattered in the fall and took some of the luster off of next week's matchup. 

- THE Ohio State keeps winning, but everyone except their diehard fans realize that it doesn't matter much. #TattooLove

- Notre Dame stood up to the doubters and said "Yeah, we are that good."

- And the entire time Alabama yawned, beat Mississippi St like it was personal and then went back to sleep. Yeah, they also are that good. 

So, you're sitting there asking yourself : "Weatha Man, what does it all mean?" Of course you are....

Simply it means the clouds are clearing but the landscape is not entirely sunny and clear as of yet. Georgia is more than likely going to Atlanta to face either Alabama or LSU (we'll get to those two a little later). They control their own SEC destiny and Ole Miss and Auburn do not inspire the type of confidence it takes to forecast an upset. As for Florida...well, they still have to stay focused because those Seminoles are still waiting for them at the end of November. 

I doubt that Oregon will go into The Coliseum on Saturday and treat USC like a scout team, but they are very capable of running away from the Trojans. They do that, and they won't be getting jumped in the new BCS rankings. Oregon has to just continue doing what they have been and that's taking care of business on the field. The rankings will straighten themselves out. 

Kansas State should not lose a game this season. There is not a team left on their schedule that should give the Wildcats any trouble. But, that is why they play the games right? They are in the same position that Oregon is in. There isn't much they can do except keep winning. The computers will either like them or not, just that simple. 

USC is out of the National Title hunt, but they can still have a huge impact on who is the eventual champion. This Saturday they welcome Oregon to town and on November 24th the Trojans play host to the Irish of Notre Dame. While USC won't be taking home that crystal ball, they should take the approach that if they can't win it no one can. 

The game of the weekend is #1 Alabama going into Baton Rouge to play the #5 Tigers of LSU. Last year's regular season game was a defensive battle, but this one doesn't have the same feel to it. Alabama looks like a dominant force on the field that could go into the NFL's NFC South and probably be the 2nd best team. On the opposite side of the field, LSU doesn't appear to be able to pass their way out of a wet paper bag. Stranger things have happened and you can never doubt the coach dubbed the Mad Hatter Mr. Les Miles, but I don't see Alabama losing to LSU. 

Game(s) of the Weekend:
- #4 Oregon at #17 USC - Should be a good game that will feature a lot of scoring. Oregon will not drop 70 in this game, but I still see them winning 

- #1 Alabama at #5 LSU - Nick Saban didn't cut it in the NFL as a head coach, so he went to Tuscaloosa and created his own NFL team without any of the salary cap restrictions. Alabama wins in a game that will not be as close as last year's match-up.

Heisman Rankings:
#1 Collin Klein - QB - Kansas St: 117-of-165 for 1,630 yards and 12 touchdowns; 120 rushes for 634 yards and 16 touchdowns.

#2 Manti Te'O - LB - Notre Dame: 80 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries.

#3 AJ McCarron - QB - Alabama: 122-of-177 for 1,684 yards, 18 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

#4 Matt Barkley - QB - USC: 171-of-262 for 2266 yards and 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. 

#5 Braxton Miller - QB - Ohio St: 112-of-198 for 1,527 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions; 166 rushes for 1,093 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Collin Klein keeps doing his thing and leading the Wildcats to impressive victories. He doesn't have a stranglehold on the stiff-armed statue, but he is in control. Manti Te'O had his "Heisman moment" when he made a diving interception of a Landry Jones pass with just about four minutes left in the game. Right now he is as close as a defensive player can be to the Heisman lead without actually being the favorite to take the award home. McCarron is as steady as they come and is probably the most efficient (not just based on numbers) quarterback in the nation. Barkley put up nearly 500 yards passing in the loss to Arizona, and that loss is the reason why he's not higher up on my list. Impressive numbers, but results are a must when it comes to the Heisman. The sophomore Braxton Miller returned from a injury in Ohio State's previous game to lead the Buckeyes to victory over Penn State. Miller has taken to Urban Meyer's system and looks like the next in a line of quarterbacks that started with Alex Smith and went on to Tim Tebow. 

A special get well soon to Marcus Lattimore. That was a gruesome injury he suffered in South Carolina's game against Tennessee. However, head coach Steve Spurrier says that Lattimore could return from the injury to play football again. I'm not as concerned with that as I am the overall well being of the young man, but it is clear he is respected throughout the nation. Get well Mr. Lattimore, we are all pulling for you. 

Well that brings us to the end of another Weatha Report. Thank you for reading and I'm sure you all will share with your friends, family, co-workers, haters, and lovers alike. Until next time folks...


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Taking the Temperature of the NFL








The NFL is the one gift that gives, but it gives too quickly. It seems like just yesterday we were all gearing up for our fantasy drafts, but today I looked up and realized that tomorrow night is the kickoff to week 8 of the NFL’s season. Where did the time go? I don’t know, but I think now is the appropriate time to take stock in what Tha WeathaMan said back on April 22nd of this year and what is actually taking place so far in the league. We’ll go division by division, and we’ll see if Tha WeathaMan is right or if it is time to chalk it up to the fact that weathermen are only right about 50% of the time.

AFC East

April Forecast -
Buffalo Bills
11-5
Miami Dolphins
5-11
New England Patriots
13-3
New York Jets
8-8

Today’s Forecast
Buffalo Bills
3-4
Miami Dolphins
3-3
New England Patriots
4-3
New York Jets
3-4

 Well, unless New England plans on going undefeated the rest of the season it seems that I put a little too much faith in that team. Although the overall premise is correct, the Patriots are the best team in that division. The Jets seem to be right on par with what I originally thought, but Buffalo took my good faith gesture and stomped on it. Shame on you Bills, Tha WeathaMan does not forget. Instead of dwelling on the underachieving defense and team that is Buffalo, let us stand and give kudos to the Miami Dolphins. That team plays their hearts out for Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill is developing well so far this season. 

How They Will Finish The Season Forecast
Buffalo Bills
8-8
Miami Dolphins
8-8
New England Patriots
11-5
New York Jets
9-7

AFC North:

April Forecast
Baltimore Ravens
10-6
Cincinnati Bengals
7-9
Cleveland Browns
4-12
Pittsburgh Steelers
11-5

Today’s Forecast
Baltimore Ravens
5-2
Cincinnati Bengals
3-4
Cleveland Browns
1-6
Pittsburgh Steelers
3-3

Monday night’s loss to Pittsburgh tells you all you need to know about Cincinnati. They have a young team full of talent and potential, but they are not quite ready for the primetime. Pittsburgh seemed to be missing every big name player they had sans Ben Roethlisberger yet the Bengals’ offense put up a dud in front of a national audience. That team will continue to grow, but the Steelers aren’t handing the torch over quite yet. If Baltimore manages to get their equipment manager through the season without tearing a hamstring maybe they’ll be satisfied. At this point if you were the black and purple of the Ravens then you have the potential to be lost for the season via injury. Ray Lewis is gone and Lardarius Webb is gone and Terrell Suggs is working his way back. Joe Flacco isn’t playing like a guy who put himself in the elite quarterback column and is working his way out of a big contract, and the team just finished getting embarrassed by the Houston Texans. If the team is to win the division, Flacco might want to remember that he doesn’t have a contract for next season and start playing like it. Oh, and Cleveland is still a train wreck. Moving on…

How They Will Finish The Season Forecast
Baltimore Ravens
10-6
Cincinnati Bengals
6-10
Cleveland Browns
4-12
Pittsburgh Steelers
10-6

AFC West:

April Forecast
Denver Broncos
9-7
Kansas City Chiefs
8-8
Oakland Raiders
7-9
San Diego Chargers  
11-5

Today’s Forecast
Denver Broncos
3-3
Kansas City Chiefs
1-5
Oakland Raiders
2-4
San Diego Chargers  
3-3

I refuse to take any blame for not being 100% accurate when it comes to this division. In my defense, no one can accurately predict what is going to happen with these four teams. A riddle, wrapped inside of a conundrum, inside of a Rubik’s cube is the most accurate statement that can be made about the AFC West. I originally was going to stick with my forecast that called for the Chargers to win the division but I am officially changing that. I am now saying that it will come down to the last week of the season. At the end the Denver Mannings will be going to the playoffs and Norv Turner and AJ Smith will be standing in the unemployment line. I obviously overestimated the coaching job that Romeo Crennel would do in Kansas City, and in Oakland I think it is safe to call the Carson Palmer trade one of the biggest highway robbery jobs in NFL trade history. Somewhere Marvin Lewis is laughing…until watching the game tape of Monday’s game.

How They Will Finish The Season
Denver Broncos
11-5
Kansas City Chiefs
5-11
Oakland Raiders
5-11
San Diego Chargers  
10-6



AFC South:

April Forecast
Houston Texans
11-5
Indianapolis Colts
4-12
Jacksonville Jaguars
3-13
Tennessee Titans 
5-11

Today’s Forecast
Houston Texans
6-1
Indianapolis Colts
3-3
Jacksonville Jaguars
1-5
Tennessee Titans 
3-4

Andrew Luck appears to be the real deal, and because of that the Colts will win more than 4 games this season. Houston is undoubtedly the best team in the AFC and at this point they might not lose the 5 games originally forecasted for them back in April. Blaine Gabbert (now injured) wasn’t progressing the way that Jacksonville had hoped even before suffering a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Couple that with the injury to Maurice Jones-Drew and you have a team that only has to look forward to next spring’s draft. I caution you to not be fooled by last Sunday’s performance by Chris Johnson. He is NOT back. Notice the hesitation he exhibits when looking for holes. He is not running with the same authority he was a couple of seasons ago. Until he starts hitting the holes with a purpose and taking what the defense gives him he will struggle. If he continues to always look for the home run then he will end up striking out more often than not. One last note on the Titans, when Jake Locker is healthy keep him seated on the bench. Matt Hasselbeck has kept that team competitive each week and has authored wins against Pittsburgh and Buffalo. I understand preparing for the future, but in the ever short and changing world of the NFL you take your shots when you can. Hasselbeck gives them the best chance to win, keep the hot hand in the lineup. 

How They Will Finish The Season
Houston Texans
13-3
Indianapolis Colts
4-12
Jacksonville Jaguars
3-13
Tennessee Titans 
7-9


NFC East:

April Forecast
Dallas Cowboys
10-6
New York Giants
9-7
Philadelphia Eagles
10-6
Washington Redskins
4-12

Today’s Forecast
Dallas Cowboys
3-3
New York Giants
5-2
Philadelphia Eagles
3-3
Washington Redskins
3-4

Dear NY Giants and Washington Redskins fans, I apologize for shortchanging your teams. The audacity of Tha WeathaMan not giving Eli Manning and RGIII the credit that they obviously deserve was unwarranted and will not happen again…until next off season. Sincerely, D. Ruck aka Tha WeathaMan. As for the Cowboys, the team really needs to find some consistency if they are to make any waves for the rest of the season. Dez Bryant, Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, and the rest of the team has to decide whether they want to live up to their potential or watch as their window closes. The Philadelphia Eagles on the other hand simply has to take care of the ball. If Michael Vick can eliminate the turnovers that have plagued him and the team, then the Eagles will win the majority of their games. If the offense continues to act as Santa Claus then Vick will be on the bench and Andy Reid will be filing a change of address form with the US Postal Service. 

How They Will Finish The Season
Dallas Cowboys
8-8
New York Giants
11-5
Philadelphia Eagles
9-7
Washington Redskins
6-10

NFC North

April’s Forecast
Chicago Bears
10-6
Detroit Lions
10-6
Green Bay Packers
13-3
Minnesota Vikings
6-10

Today’s Forecast
Chicago Bears
5-1
Detroit Lions
2-4
Green Bay Packers
4-3
Minnesota Vikings
5-2

Well, I totally whiffed on the Minnesota Vikings who have to be the NFL’s surprise team at this point. Christian Ponder has continued to develop and Adrian Peterson looks like he never tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee less than 12 months ago. While Peterson is running and cutting with the same force he did pre-injury, the Vikings cannot rely too much on A.P. They must continue to have the balanced offense that produced that 5-2 record. The Packers may be 4-3 right now, but I believe that they have awakened from their early season slumber and are now primed to go on a tear. The Lions appear to be going backwards in their development as a team as Matthew Stafford has regressed this season and Calvin Johnson hasn’t been getting into the end zone with the same frequency as before. And that defense of theirs looks like Swiss cheese.  Jay Cutler continues to act like a spoiled child at times, but no one can argue with the fact that he has the Bears in a good spot. His on field chemistry with Brandon Marshall combined with that defense’s ability to produce turnovers and points equals a team that is in prime position to take the division. 

How They Will Finish The Season
Chicago Bears
12-4
Detroit Lions
7-9
Green Bay Packers
11-5
Minnesota Vikings
8-8

NFC West

April’s Forecast
Arizona Cardinals
5-11
St. Louis Rams
6-10
San Francisco 49ers
12-4
Seattle Seahawks  
7-9

Today’s Forecast
Arizona Cardinals
4-3
St. Louis Rams
3-4
San Francisco 49ers
5-2
Seattle Seahawks  
4-3

Arizona is dropping faster than Roger Goodell’s approval rating in New Orleans. They may win more than 5 games, but they are still a mediocre team that was playing above their heads. The Rams are as competitive as everyone figured they would be under new head coach Jeff Fisher. That is one coach that demands accountability and his players have bought in. The Seahawks have a great defense paired with a good run game and a rookie quarterback that has defied all of the critics. Aided by a blown call that was the catalyst for ending the referee lockout, Russell Wilson has kept the Seahawks afloat by putting the ball in the right places more often than the wrong places. Also, kudos to Pete Carroll for the drafting of Bruce Irvin. The rookie defensive end has played great football this season and is justifying his 15th pick in this past draft. But the class of the division is still the 49ers. The NFC West is there’s to lose, and while the division title won’t be a runaway as maybe first thought it will still produce a California champion. 

How They Will Finish The Season
Arizona Cardinals
5-11
St. Louis Rams
6-10
San Francisco 49ers
11-5
Seattle Seahawks  
9-7

NFC South:

April’s Forecast
Atlanta Falcons
10-6
Carolina Panthers
6-10
New Orleans Saints
10-6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
4-12

Today’s Forecast
Atlanta Falcons
6-0
Carolina Panthers
1-5
New Orleans Saints
2-4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
2-4

The Falcons have suffered from the tendency to play down to their opponents, and their defense has been sloppy outside of their performance against San Diego. However, they have channeled their inner DJ Khaled (look it up if you’re lost) and all they do is win in Atlanta. Cam Newton and the Panthers look lost on the field and in press conferences this season. Their season is done as far as any legitimate playoff hopes. Now they are playing for jobs, both on the team and on the coaching staff. The Saints are showing small signs of recovering from the bounty scandal that has engulfed the team since the Summer. Their next three games will tell the story of their season. At Denver and at home for the Eagles and Falcons will either send the Saints into playoff mode or will signal the beginning of the city’s Super Bowl preparations. The Buccaneers caught a bad break last Sunday, but this team is where I figured they would be. They are a talented team going through the ups and downs associated with a rookie NFL coach. They will win more than two more games, but they are looking towards next season and continuing the improvement (hopefully) of Josh Freeman. 


How They Will Finish The Season
Atlanta Falcons
13-3
Carolina Panthers
3-13
New Orleans Saints
9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
5-11
 


This season has already been interesting and it will only get better as the playoff pushes start. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Also keep in mind that Tha Weatha Report clued you in on how the season would play out. Thanks for reading, and don't forget.....SHARE this with friends!!!