By
Pete Fiutak
Fire over your questions to me at
pete@collegefootballnews.com. I might not be able to answer them
all, but I promise they're all read. Any e-mails sent to this
address may be published or edited unless requested otherwise.
(Please put ASK CFN in the subject line, and PLEASE keep the
questions short ... it makes my life easier.)
For a team that
hasn’t lost a game yet, the Texas Longhorns are tall in the
disappointment column. It seems like everyone is just sort of waiting
for them to get beat. Now, I bleed orange so I have a hard time being
objective where the ‘Horns are concerned so my question to you is- Are
they as bad as they’ve looked? Do you think that this squad can make
vast improvements throughout the season? Do you think they will? I
can’t tell if it’s just missed assignments and mistakes (i.e. things
that can be corrected by watching film and good coaching) or if they
just aren’t that good….
– CF
A: I’m not exactly sure what’s missing. The offensive line isn’t
nearly as good as past Longhorn lines, the linebacking corps hasn’t
played well, and the receiving corps full of NFL talent hasn’t made
enough things happen. I don’t want to point to something as nebulous as
a lack of energy, but it seems like the team is going through the
motions. On the plus side, Jamaal Charles is having a nice year, and
Colt McCoy has been solid. 3-0 is still 3-0, and things can change in a
big hurry with a win in Dallas over Oklahoma in a few weeks.
After Iowa State's upset over Iowa, does this hurt the Big 10
reputation even more with a sleeper Iowa team losing to a weak
Big 12 team. I am a Cyclones fan, but even I wasn't expecting
the win. Also, how do you think Iowa would fare if they were in
the Big 12 with Iowa State's schedule. I'm thinking they'd be
5-7.
–
RP
A: It certainly doesn’t help the cause, but this is what Iowa
State does from time to time to Iowa. Remember that 2002 Iowa
team that got ripped by USC in the Orange Bowl? It lost to a
mediocre Iowa State squad. The 2005 Cyclone team was average,
but its defense dominated the Hawkeyes 23-3. This isn’t the
strongest of Iowa teams, with major issues on the offensive
line, and a lousy receiving corps after getting hit by
suspensions. However, the defensive line is special, and will
beat a few teams by itself. The ship will be turned around if
the Hawkeyes can beat Wisconsin this week. With Iowa State’s
schedule, I’d say the Hawkeyes would go 6-6, maybe 7-5. (Kent
State, Northern Iowa, Iowa State, in Iowa’s place, at Toledo, at
Nebraska, at Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, at Missouri, Kansas
State, Colorado, at Kansas).
I know there have been some bad losses (NW to Duke, Iowa to
ISU) and Michigan has sucked, but the Big Ten should get
some credit for
having the best out-of-conference winning percentage and best
out-of-conference winning percentage against BCS conference
teams. It's not the best conference , but it's no ACC. I'd also
take it over the Big East and Big 12. I think the Big Ten gets
ripped on because its teams aren't as "stylish", although it
admittedly is a bit disappointing so far. Why are we hearing so
many rip on the Big Ten and not the ACC, etc.?
- Buckeye Fan in Michigan
A: Along with dumping on Notre Dame, it’s become fashionable to
rip on the Big Ten after the Ohio State disaster against Florida
in the national title, and Michigan’s problems with USC in the
Rose, and, of course, to start out the year. The league gets so
much publicity compared to all the other conferences, including
the SEC, that everyone likes to dump on it when it’s not that
great. However, I’m with you in that the ripping has become
mostly unwarranted.
The SEC might be the best conference in America from top to
bottom, but there are only two killers (LSU and Florida) and a
bunch of good teams. I’d take my chances with Penn State,
Wisconsin or Ohio State to finish third in the SEC this year,
and I still wouldn’t put it past Michigan, Purdue or if
everything broke right, Michigan State, to beat a Georgia, South
Carolina or Arkansas.
The Pac 10? It’s getting a lot of love right now because of USC,
and Oregon and Cal came up with big wins, but after UCLA’s
embarrassment against Utah, Arizona’s loss to New Mexico, Oregon
State’s blowout loss to Cincinnati, Washington’s loss to Ohio
State and Washington State’s loss to Wisconsin, I’m not sure
where the bandwagon is coming from.
Again, I thing the SEC is best because it’s so, so solid from 1
to 12, but the Big Ten is certainly in the mix for second.
Purdue is better than you think, Michigan State is solid,
Indiana has a dangerous offense (and could be comparable to
Vanderbilt in the SEC), Illinois has suddenly become relevant,
and Wisconsin (despite the struggles lately), Penn State, and
Ohio State are all going to get better as the year goes on. Of
course, it doesn’t help the cause when Northwestern loses at
home to Duke, Minnesota loses to Florida Atlantic, and Iowa
loses to Iowa State. Wait until bowl time, and then it should
all wash out. Remember, Wisconsin beat Arkansas and Penn State
beat Tennessee in the bowls last year.
What are you honest thoughts on the Gators right now? You put
them at #3 or somewhere else? Also, I saw your top 5 for the
Heisman right now. Where do you put Tebow? Harvin? Thanks.
– FT
A: I’m sure I’m going to get killed yet again by Gator fans,
who still don’t think their 2006 national title team has gotten
enough respect, but I actually like this year’s team a bit
better. For all the good things Chris Leak did, an experienced
Tim Tebow is an upgrade. The ground game is far better, thanks
to an improved running back corps, the field goal kicking is
better, and the defense, while certainly inexperienced, and
without the same talent in the secondary, is just as fast, and
has just as much athleticism. Heisman-wise, I wouldn’t put
Harvin in there yet, but Tebow is certainly on the radar with
several big games coming up. If he rocks in a win over LSU, he
has to be in the top three. Team-wise, put Florida, USC,
Oklahoma and LSU in a bag, pull one out, and you probably have
the nation’s number one team. At least the Gators are in the
discussion.
As a Tennessee fan, I watched Florida hammer the Vols and could
think only one thing: why has the national media seemingly
ignored Percy Harvin? Tim Tebow threw into double and triple
coverage multiple times against Tennessee, but Percy Harvin made
the catch. Tim Tebow is called "superman", but most of his play
at the quarterback position isn't exceptional: he makes bad
reads, poor decisions, is slow to react, and throws into
coverage. Tebow is talented, but Harvin is the driving-force in
that Florida offense. Harvin is the most dominant player I have
ever seen in a Florida uniform and I believe that he is the most
dominant player in the SEC. Darren McFadden is good, but Harvin
is stunning to watch. – Brian
A: Tebow’s the main man on the Gators, and he’s playing far,
far better than you’re giving him credit for. He’s second in the
nation in passing efficiency and tenth in total offense; what
else are you looking for? As far as Harvin, yeah, he’s something
very, very special. Everyone likes to try to find the next
Reggie Bush, and he’s among the new wave of electrifying
playmakers like Cal’s DeSean Jackson, who’s a receiver, but can
be a killer as a runner, and West Virginia freshman Noel Devine.
He’s not a 25-touch type of player, and he’s certainly not
McFadden as far as a running back, but he’s a home run threat
every time he has the ball. As opposed to being a driving force,
he’s more of a momentum changer, able to kill a team with a big
play.
When are you guys going to give some pub to Washington State QB
Alex Brink? The guy is about to break all of WSU's career
passing records, and has nearly a thousand yards and nine
touchdowns the last two weeks (albeit against weak opponents).
With the offensive weapons he has in Bumpus, Gibson, Dillon,
Tardy, and Collins, he has the potential to put up some amazing
numbers this year in a very strong Pac-10 conference. Reading
around, most non-west coasters probably don't know this guy
exists. If anything, he will lead his team to a bowl despite
the preseason predictions of struggles. – MD
A: Where are the wins? The numbers are certainly nice, but
when compared to someone like Jason Gesser, who put up the
numbers, got the Cougars to bowl games, and came up with some
huge wins, you just can’t put give Brink as much love. As a
starter, the best win Brink has come up with was the 37-15
blowout at UCLA last year, when he threw for 405 yards and three
scores. I know it’s about the team, and it’s not just about the
quarterback, but the Cougars have had so many close calls with
Brink at the helm, you have to blame the passer a bit, just like
you have to praise him in close wins.
Why does Colt Brennan, out of Hawaii, get mentioned on so many
people's Heisman ballots, but Graham Harrell, of Texas Tech,
does not? They run basically the same offense, but only
Harrell's is considered gimmicky. Also, Texas Tech's
competition is overall much tougher than Hawaii's. Why the
double standard? - Rob, Lubbock TX
A: Harrell is starting to get a little bit of notice. It might
not be a fair comparison since the Big 12 competition is tougher
than the WAC, but Harrell will only get the national love with a
big win or two against the top conference teams. He caught an
awful break when he engineered the epic comeback against
Minnesota in the Insight Bowl on the NFL Network; no one saw it,
so the buzz hasn’t been there to start the season. With that
said, no, Harrell hasn’t been Brennan.
Brennan is asked to do more for his offense. For example, he has
554 rushing yards and 11 scores, compared to Harrell’s -107 and
three scores. Hawaii got a huge year out of Nate Ilaoa last
season, but Harrell has been helped by far, far better running
back play and far, far better defense. And then there’s the
history. Yeah, the two quarterbacks are comparable over the
first few games, but the career numbers aren’t even close. Brennan has completed 71% of his passes for 11,112 yards
and 105 touchdowns with 26 interceptions. Harrell
has completed 68% of his throws for 6,294 yards and 55 scores
with 13 interceptions. Don’t forget that Brennan has often
cranked out number in just a half or three quarters.
uhhh...As a speechless UCLA fan, is there any chance at all that
the Bruins miraculously recovers from that beatdown they took?
Can this team still play up to the level they were hyped at? And
if not, is Karl Dorrell in big trouble? - jeff
A: Why are you so stunned? This is UCLA football. This is the
program that beat USC last year, and then couldn’t handle the
anemic Florida State offense. This is the program that started
out 8-0 in 2005, and then got its doors blown off 52-14 by an
awful Arizona team. This is still a tremendous team with a lot
of big-time talent, but QB Ben Olson has to be more consistent,
the defense has to generate the pass rush expected of it, and
there has to be that game-in-game-out focus that it hasn’t
seemed to have, for the most part, under Dorrell. Remember, that
was a loss to Utah. Beat Washington and Oregon State over the
next few weeks, and all will be right with the world.
Why does the NCAA have specific academic standards for football
players? Why are they a good deal lower than what the normal
college admissions standards would be? Is there a socioeconomic
reason for it or is it just because they feel like bending rules
to let a bunch of jug heads onto our college campuses? Now why
is it that Notre Dame shuns these rules and standards and only
goes after kids that, while still not college material, are a
cut above many of the recruits USC, LSU and Oklahoma are
bringing in and is Notre Dame being forced to do so? – MK
A: Here’s the theory, at least the one that tries to justify
bringing in players who likely couldn’t make it as students. At
any college campus, the idea is it to put together a collection
of diverse students with a variety of talents. Universities want
the best people in their respective fields, whether that’s a
pianist, a chemist, or a tight end. It’s the fun debate; could
LeBron James, a good student, but not Ivy material, have gotten
into Harvard? After all, the school wants the absolute best in
the world in the student body. As far as Notre Dame, I don’t buy
into the academic excuse. You’re Notre Dame. You have every
conceivable advantage, and there’s no reason whatsoever to not
be able to get plenty of top level players, and smart ones, too.
After watching both Nebraska and Notre Dame struggle offensively
under schemes deliberately styled after professional football
playbooks, I began to question the basic assumption that
translating a pro offense to college is somehow easier than
translating a college offense to the pros. College coaches have
less practice time, less mature players, and an entirely
different level of talent available. Why should Bill Callahan be
any more successful installing the West Coast offense with the
Huskers than Urban Meyer would be getting the Dolphins to run
the spread option? – JT
A: Scheme, schmeme. If the talent is in place, you could run
the Wing-T, or any other offense you want, and the team will
win. USC could go the whole year without throwing the ball and
could still finish unbeaten. Give USC the Hawaii or Texas Tech
offense, and you’d have stratospheric numbers. The spread at
UNLV stinks; the spread at Florida is terrific. Put Vince Young
under center, and you can run any offense you want. Notre Dame’s
offense was great last year with Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija
and Darius Walker, and now stinks with new skill players and no
offensive line. It’s a combination of style, coaching and
players.
Is the loss to unranked Kentucky the end of the Heisman Hype
for Louisville's QB Brian Brohm, even though he still played a
good game? - HK
A: Yup. He can still be a finalist if Louisville wins the
Big East, but this has quickly become a crowded year in the
Heisman hunt. He’ll have to settle for being a multi-millionaire
first round draft pick next year.
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