End Zone (Week 16)

1. Does Peyton Manning play for the Colts again?
KDC: Yep, because that's how the Colts do things. Even with the Rams determined to play it close in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes but eventually lose out to the Colts (because they're the Rams), Peyton returns - probably with a renegotiated contract that benefits both sides. I personally see them using the Favre-Rodgers paradigm for a couple years assuming Peyton is healthy.
Momo: No because I think the Colts will move on. The new CBA provides them with an out an actually gives them a more stable future without Manning. Drafting Andrew Luck, if they are "lucky" enough to get the 1st pick is cheaper than having Manning. Luck provides them flexibility in their salary cap to rebuild a team that can be true contenders in a few years. Also think about this, the Colts with Luck for the next 10 years or three years with Peyton. Its sad to me but today's sports provides few legacy players with organizations. Peyton is definitely a legacy guy but I see the Colts choosing money and the known factor over the legacy of Manning.

2. Take your pick Giants or Jets?
KDC: Do I have to? Will either of these teams make any noise in the playoffs? Probably not. I see the Jets winning this only because ... I don't really know actually. Maybe because they've been less consistently bad? I do find it interesting how the media has played up the fact Giants QB Eli Manning is definitely an "elite" &/or "clutch" quarterback now because he beat the Patriots & played the Packers tough, but I still don't see it.
Momo: Neither really impress but I guess I'll take the Giants. My reason is they at least have sort of a running game and a more stable quarterback. I do trust Eli way more than Mark Sanchez. It is true that the media does play up these two teams and this year neither has been consistent or very good. At least all the talking will stop today.

3. The "Too Smart For His Own Good" Award goes to...
KDC: Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator of the St Louis Rams. Although prescient on Tim Tebow, McDaniels alienated an entire football-crazy Denver in 2 years w/his demeanor. Now, given a reprieve with the Rams to strut his stuff, with a very limited cast but a perennial Pro Bowler in RB Stephen Jackson, he keeps calling pass plays with 3rd string QBs. Inside the Red Zone. Hello? If Kansas City is truly believing he is a candidate for their head coaching position, they will be sorely disappointed.
Momo: Mine goes to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The whole organization got too smart for their own good. First let's start with the owner who said Del Rio needed to make playoffs at the beginning of the year and he was not selling the team. Two days after that declaration was made the team cut David Garrard, their second best offensive player. Next, the installed a rookie, Blaine Gabbert, because they drafted him high, and Blaine was not ready to play. He needed a year or two to watch and learn because he is running for his life back in the pocket. After giving Del Rio a vote of confidence two weeks prior, Weaver not only fired Del Rio but also announced he was selling the team on the same day. All of this happened when the AFC South was up for grabs and the Jaguars could have made the playoffs with Garrard and the best running back in the league Maurice Jones-Drew. Just like Stephen Jackson, Jones-Drew talent is being wasted on a bad team. The Jaguars need good leadership from top to bottom.

Merry Christmas from your friends at the End Zone and Momo's Musings Sports!!!!

Momo's Munchies

1. Albert Pujlos really needs to get his wife to stop talking. Its bad enough that he left St. Louis for the Angels but for her to blame God for making them move is a little nutty.

2. Coaches should be punished for leaving schools high and dry. Example, not only did new Arizona St. coach Todd Graham defy his former bosses when they told him he could not speak to the Sun Devils. Graham texted his resignation into to the AD. No class whatsoever. Here's the story: Todd Graham

3. How fragile is the NFL season? The Bears and Eagles could miss out on the playoffs because of injuries to their starters and they were contenders just weeks ago.

4. Pretty sure the Packers don't think their loss to the Chiefs was a "Good" loss. No losses are good. Also I know having a near perfect season in their grasp has to be eating them up. If McCartney is smart, he will rest his starters once they wrap up homefield.

5. I think Brady took the matchup with Tebow personal. Tom dove in from the one yard line and scored a TD, something he never does.

6. Drew Brees is going to break Marino's passing record. To me it's a little diluted because defenses today are basically muzzled.

7. I understand why Mike Tomlin played Big Ben on Monday night. I just think he could have pulled him when he saw he wasn't as mobile and put in Charlie Batch so that the Steelers could have had more of an opportunity to win.

8. If I'm the Saints, I root hard for the Rams to knock off the Niners next week. San Francisco looks scary, especially at home.

9. I'm not enthused to watch any of these bowl games. And I love sports, especially football but none of the matchups intrigue me.

10. I'd be chocked if Peyton Manning plays for the Colts again. It's lining up that they will cut him and he could play elsewhere if he is healthy.

End Zone (Week 14)

Bold Prediction:
KDC: Jason Garrett WILL be the coach of the Cowboys next season. I'm not saying he deserves to be coach after the multiple debacles of freezing his own kicker 2 games ago & play-calling too conservatively early in the season, but Jerry Jones said he regretted letting go of Chan Gailey after 2 seasons because it wasn't enough time to develop his program. Garrett has looked horrible, but I think he'll get at least 2 more years. Sorry about that Cowboys fans.

Momo: Jason Garrett WILL NOT be the coach of the Cowboys next season if they don't make the playoffs. I’ve been sitting on this for a while but Garrett is not a good coach. It’s not just the icing your own kicker fiasco of last week, he cannot coach this team. Garrett is part of the problem of from last year and years past. When the Cowboys went 1-7 last year, who was the coach/OC? Jason Garrett. When he took over the team, the offense played better, but the defense just collapsed. Jerry Jones is not going to stand for this type of coaching and team mishaps, especially if they miss the playoffs two years in a row.. I can totally see him going after Jeff Fisher or Jon Gruden to try and revitalize this team and franchise. Some guys are just cutout to be coordinators, and Jason Garrett is proving that point every week.

I was wrong...
Momo: I was wrong about the Texans. They will be a tough out in the playoffs because of their running game and defense. Even with a rookie quarterback, Tyler Yates, the Texans can sustain drives with short passes and pounding the ball against the other teams defense. Also the Texans defense is relentless, even the loss of Mario Williams. Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips deserve a lot of credit for keeping this team playing at a high level even without all their playmakers.

KDC: I was wrong about the Buccaneers. Yeah, I didn't make any rash predictions about their future greatness, but I did feel like they were the overlooked team as everyone got sucked in by the hype about Atlanta & Philadelphia & San Diego. I publicly figured they'd be a wild card instead of losing the tie-breakers in 2010. Oops! Turns out I was the only one who believed they'd play as intensely in 2011 as they did in 2010. Ah well.

I wouldn't be surprised...
KDC: ...if Mike McCarthy didn't win Coach of the Year. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but has any 13-0 team ever gotten so overlooked as this year's Packers? It's been an extremely weird year, but Harbaugh's job in San Francisco deserves notice, & Fox's job with Denver is certainly worth votes, but honestly, every Super Bowl winner comes into every game with a target on their backs and no one has shrugged them off as this year's Packers. Yet, it's the kind of year that he could be runner-up and no one would think twice about it.

Momo: No disrespect to McCarthy but the coach of the year has to be Jim Harbaugh. Sure the Packers have won all their games and are coming off a Super Bowl but Harbaugh has revitalized this entire franchise. The Niners were not expected to contend for a championship. Harbaugh has brought confidence, discipline and leadership to team that sorely need it. Anyone that can make ultra-bust Alex Smith into a more than serviceable NFL quarterback deserves the award of Coach of the Year.

End Zone (Week 13)

1. More likely to make the playoffs, Lions or Bears?
KDC: Couldn’t I make a million dollars if I could guarantee one or the other? The pitiful Bears, w/out a QB in any direction, are more likely to make it than the imploding Lions. Early success did in the Lions, who thought they were of championship caliber but clearly aren’t. Give the Bears credit – at least they’re playing w/resolve & character as their aspirations are going down in flames. That said, they’re still a safer bet.
Momo: This is a tough one but I'm actually going to go with the Lions. The Lions are only missing a starter at running back. They still have their trigger man in Stafford and Calvin Johnson is a tough cover for anyone in the league. The problem is keeping Suh's head in the game. But with him being out a couple of weeks they survive and get strong for a playoff push. The Bears injuries on the offensive side, I believe have done them in. The advantage they have is they hold the tiebreaker over the Falcons who are nipping at their heels.

2. More likely to make the playoffs, Titans or Jets?
KDC: Jets, though I don’t anticipate them winning in the playoffs. Despite their coach’s brash predictions (that no team should have to live under every year), they still understand the urgency and what the playoffs require, and have greater depth than the Titans.
Momo: Ah, the Jets are in a familiar place. Late in the season back against the wall and needing to win out to make the playoffs. We have seen this script before and this I believe its a different ending. The Titans have finally got Chris Johnson going while the Texans have had injuries take away all their playmakers. With CJ2K running and Matt Hasselbeck throwing I think the Titans slip in past the Jets. The clock is ticking on Mark Sanchez.

3. More memorable season, Brees or Rodgers?
KDC: I’m a Cheesehead so I gotta say Rodgers. Ya gotta remember, even though they returned most of their Super Bowl team (except for DE Cullen Jenkins, who deserves his fate in Purgatory…I mean Philadelphia) no one predicted an unbeaten team with a(largely) unblemished QB. Yeah, people said Rodgers could be in the upper echelon, but many (most?) had him safely behind Manning & Brady & Brees. Nothing against those 3 at all, but Rodgers has exploded into a supernatural season that even his greatest admirers couldn’t imagine (& must make Bret Favre curse the football gods). At least in 2012 (& perhaps into the next 3-4 years),there’s unlikely to be a better QB in the NFL. And I sleep a little better knowing that.
Momo: What the Packers are doing is incredible. Not beaten and Rodgers playing out of his mind. But Drew Brees is going to break Marino's single season passing record and also win his division. Brees's number are off the chart and he does it a less stellar set of receivers and a head coach who is on crutches. Rodgers may win the MVP but people will remember the magical season Drew Brees had as well.

End Zone (Week 12)

Bold predictions:
Momo: Steve Spagnuolo will bot coach the Rams next season. This team is awful under his time in St. Louis and he looks overmatched and overwhelmed against other head coaches. The interesting part is what will happen with Sam Bradford. What stuns a young quarterbacks growth is the constant switching of offensive coordinators. I don't know if we will see the full potential of Bradford if they keep playing musical chairs at the OC position. But back to Spags, he will most likely become the new defensive coordinator in Philly. He has a connection with Reid, who will have to get rid of Juan Castillo or Andy will be fired himself. Also, another bold prediction is the Packers will cut Ryan Grant after this season. Their future at running backs will be James Starks and Brandon Zaine. Grant has lost his explosiveness and doesn't hit the holes with authority anymore.

KDC: I'm going to go out on a (short) limb & say the Packers will be the first team since the Dolphins to go undefeated & win the Super Bowl. They're not the Patriots, that live in their coach's shadow, & will burn out. This is a mature team that knows what it takes & realizes they can make history. Woodson & Rogers are openly contemplating this, which means they've discussed it behind the scenes. These guys love playing for each other & they're weighing (& wanting) the fight. Barring key injuries, I see these guys lofting the Lombardi trophy in February.

Momo's Munchies

1. Is it just me or did the college football season end two weeks ago? No real drama left and I'm not looking forward to the bowl games.

2. Urban Meyer to Ohio St. is not a shocker. The shocker is how Urban TRIED to make everyone think he wasn't contacted and he didn't accept the job last week.It was the worse kept secret in all of sports. Meyer has no one to answer to but his family. He was the one who decided to step away because of health and family reasons. Meyer was the one who signed a contract with his children stating he wouldn't coach for five years. Personally, I think Meyer got tired of competing with the other SEC schools for top talent and bolted for Buckeye land. At the very least, the Buckeyes will not slip that in the Big Ten.

3. Can anyone answer how the Crimson Tide can play for a title and they didn't even win their division, let alone conference?!?!?!?!?!?!?

4. Kansas fired coach Turner Gill after two seasons. Have they forgotten they are Kansas and football is not a top priority at the school? The AD stated they wanted their team to contend regularly in the Big 12. Maybe he was talking about basketball because even in Kansas best year two years ago, when they snuck into a BCS bowl, they lost to Mizzou on a neutral field.


5. Ndamukong Suh got suspended for two games for kicking a Packers lineman. If I'm Terrell Pryor, I'm highly upset and am making a call to the commissioner. This isn't the first time Suh has fought an opponent or teammate. There are now stories coming out of Nebraska where the coaches had to sit him out from practice to keep him away from certain players. If Goddell thought it was fair to punish Pryor for circumventing the supplement draft rules and deceiving the NCAA, then Suh's suspensions should have been longer for his collegiate offenses. Goddell opened himself for this type of criticism.

6. Also Jim Schwartz and the Lions team should be fined as well. They have condoned his actions for the last two years. Schwartz wants his team to be the toughest bully on the block but they often lose composure when the teams they pick on fight back. Someone in the Lions organization needs to stand up and be a leader. You can play tough and hard but there needs to be veteran leadership to make sure everyone is playing the RIGHT way.

7. Isn't it funny how everyone gush over Brady and the Patriots when they beat bad teams? No one even realizes that their defense is so bad that it gave up 400 passing yards to Vince Young. Yes that Vince Young who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Young had a career passing day against the Patriot secondary.

8. I was wrong three years ago when I said the Rams should have taken Mark Sanchez instead of Jason Smith. The actual pick should have been Michael Oher who fell to the Ravens. Just not sold on Sanchez and I believe that Rex Ryan isn't either. He just makes too many boneheaded mistakes at critical moments in the game.

9. If the Saints and Packers hook up in the NFC Championship game, its going to be a shootout.

10. A part of me actually feels bad for the Texans. They are 8-3 and now are down to their 3rd string quarterback. For a franchise that has never made the playoffs, this season has been set up nicely for them. Peyton's hurt, Jacksonville got rid of their veteran quarterback and the Titans were actually rebuilding. All the Texans needed was a little luck to win the division and host a playoff game. Being down to a rookie quarterback isn't too bad with the top ranked defense. Still, I have a feeling the Titans mat catch and pass them and that's where I actually feel bad.

End Zone (Week 11)

This week version of the End Zone features a question about Andrew Luck. We get answers from all the contributors to my page.

1. With all the hype about him is expected to come in and save a franchise, how high should the fanbase that drafts Andrew Luck should be will the expectations be? Also, is it fair to him to be labeled a savior when really he is an unknown quantity?
Droddy: Knowing Luck will go to the worst team in the league this year, he will not win many games. As long as the fan base keeps things in perspective, I do not think the media will play much of a role in his development. The media hypes everything possible and Luck is no exception. The hardest part for him will not be expectations, but landing on a team that is starting from scratch. Cam Newton at least has a great WR to throw to and a decent running game to fall back on - Luck probably won't have that much.
KDC: Outside of how unforgiving his hometown may or may not be (because there's no way to know this), I don't think the national media will be hard on him because of the rookie status. Cam Newton is continually praised for his great numbers even as Carolina continues to lose. Even the lesser ranked QBs are being given time to develop. I don't see it being different next year.
Momo: What is going to hurt Luck next year is how well Andy Dalton has done this year. Dalton has put the Bengals squarely in the playoff hunt with a young team AND he was drafted in the 2nd round. Traditional bad teams take their quarterbacks high in the first round which that will happen to Luck. The team that drafts him will expect him to come in and resurrect their franchise and make them relevant. That is going to be especially difficult considering if he has a really bad surrounding cast. The one thing that could help Luck is that the skill position players he will get in the pros will be better than any he has ever played with. I think whoever drafts him has to be a little reasonable and patient and not fall into love immediately with all the hype.

2. I was wrong about ...
KDC: The Miami Dolphins. Yes, they're still rarely winning, but look how hard they play every down. They barely lost to a good (not great) Cowboy's team on Thanksgiving, and they give everyone fits. Earlier I picked them as the most likely team to go winless (as every team in their division started so much better), but not only was I wrong, I didn't give them credit for their teamwork & professional pride. They embarrass the Colts, who have been uninspired from their first exhibition game forward. (I know. I was there.) Yes, they need more talent, better coaching & GMing, but that doesn't mean they can't look themselves in the mirror & say they played their hardest.
Momo: How bad the Niners would be with Alex Smith at quarterback. I will be the first to say that I have routinely bashed Smith for being the worse quarterback in the league for years. Somehow Jim Harbaugh has enstilled confidence in him and has nearly turned his career from a bust into a near Pro-Bowler this season. Smith has the 49ers sitting atop of the NFC West. It has been easy to compare Smith to Rodgers because they Smith was the top pick while Rodgers tumbled to the Packers. Smith started immediately while Rodgers had to sit behind a legend. The difference is Rodgers has had the same offensive coordinator his entire career while Smith has had 7 different ones in 7 years. Having a consistent voice in his ear and giving him confidence has started to make Smith a better passer. Will he be great, I doubt it but at least the 49ers are starting to reap returns on their investment.

3. We could all learn from ....
KDC: Charles Woodson. Yes, he was the defensive player of the year 2 years ago, & the undisputed defensive captain of the Green Bay Packers, & is on his way to the Hall of Fame, but it's not his talent, it's his hunger to change games (at the age of 35) that continues to make him extraordinary. This man doesn't know how to coast. Look no further than the way he ripped the ball out of Detroit's Brian Pettrigrew's hands to prove he cultivates an amazing hunger few at any age show. Last year many thought he should retire on top after the Super Bowl win. Why do that when you're still on top?
Momo: From the humbleness of Tim Tebow. No other player besides Tony Romo, is scrutinized more harshly than him. Regardless that his coach does not believe in him, his GM John Elway does not want him but Tebow does not bash his detractors. All he does is go out and win. What matters to Tim is that his teammates believe in him and he rewards that confidence by displaying true leadership. He serves his teammates by closing out close games with wins and then Tim praises their play and not his own when they win. This is what you want out of a leader and your quarterback. In this day and age we could use more young leaders in sports.

End Zone (Week 10)

1. Pundits from all the networks are now calling Rodgers the "Greatest Quarterback Ever". Agree or Disagree?
KDC: Disagree. He might end up having the greatest season ever in 2011, but he got "great" at the end of last season. I figure he'll have to dominate for at least 3-5 more years before he can be discussed with Starr, Unitas, Montana, and the rest. That said, he's obviously the key to an offense no one has been able to stop so far. It's probably in his favor he doesn't have an All World receiver because it means they're all excited to do their job and share the glory around. It's also amusing to see everyone's "NFL Power Rankings" each week & put Green Bay as the undisputed #1 team, then spend the rest of their time talking about other teams. Even the pictures of the Power Rankings rarely feature the Packers. Talk about disappearing into the headlines.
Momo: I'm a big Rodgers fan but these accolades they are heaping on him are a tad bit ridiculous. Yes he is playing at a high level, and yes he looks unbeatable, and yes his team is undefeated but Rodgers is still growing. We are forgetting that the key in the NFL is Super Bowl wins and Rodgers only has one. Once he gets 3 or 4 then he goes into rarefied air. Rodgers game right now has the accuracy of Montana and the athletic ability of young and Cunnigham but he is not among the greatest of all time.

2. The Chicago Bears have several players in dispute against upper management. Can they keep playing this well if it continues?
KDC: It might work in management's favor because these key players are trying to justify new contracts. Plus their teamwork is high. Give Lovie Smith & Mike Martz credit for coaching well through early adversity. This team is on par with last year's National League championship contender, it's just their bad luck that Green Bay has leapt ahead of everyone.
Momo: I think it can. The players all have one thing in common and that is they feel under appreciated by Jerry Angelo, the bears GM. It seems that Lovie Smith is using this as a rallying cry and his guys are responding to it. I also find it interesting that Martz turned down an extension with the team. Maybe he too wants more pay but its probably more than likely he wants a head coaching job.

3. "If we were trying to run a regular offense, he'd be screwed," head coach John Fox said of the quarterback, who's won both starts since the Denver staff implemented an option offense that maximizes Tebow's strengths as a runner. "After the loss to Detroit (Week 8), we decided if Tim is going to be our guy, we can't do that other crap," Fox said of the altered approach. "We had to tweak it." John Fox's take on Tebow Fair or Foul?
KDC: It's both. It's fair in that Tebow (like most young QBs) hasn't got the entire skillset necessary to play NFL QB, so they have to adjust to that skillset. It's foul in how obstinately they stuck to an offensive scheme that didn't fit best with their skills players until they were destroyed by the Lions! Come on guys! The point is to win with who you've got. In 4 weeks Tebow has won more games than Cam Newton (who everyone supposedly wants) in 9! Yes, Tebow still has much to improve on, but at least create the environment for him to win in (& get better!).
Momo: Completely foul. So foul in fact that Fox has now apologized for making the statement. Its obvious to everyone,including the Broncos players,that Fox and John Elway do not want Tim Tebow as their quarterback. The gameplan the Broncos are installing is totally setup to make Tebow the scapegoat and try to make management look better. First they trade away the teams only viable receiver, next they got to a college style offense and the statement made by Fox is that Tebow is not a passer. I'm pretty sure he can throw swing passes and screens. How about having the receivers run slants or shorter routes? Each week, Tebow finds a way to win. This guy is a leader and his teammates believe in him regardless of what the coaches think.

4. What we know, 9 weeks into the season . . .
KDC: These teams are not real contenders no matter how the media gushes - Giants, Jets, Ravens, Bills. These teams are overlooked - Texans, Bengals. This team is interesting in all the right ways - Bears. I wouldn't mind seeing this team crash & burn because of their lavish immaturity - Lions. This team is perennially overhyped by the media - Patriots. These teams are real and you'd better watch out: Packers, Steelers, 49ers.
Momo: The Matt Schaub injury could change the fortune of the Texans franchise. Schaub was having a great year but now is out for the rest of the year. the Texans were cruising along before this even with the loss of Mario Williams earlier this season. I could easily see the Texans losing all 6 of their next game and missing the playoffs. If Matt Leinart has any talent he is going to have to step up and lead this team to a place its never been. The playoffs.

End Zone (Week 9)

1. Which Peyton needs a bounce back 2012, Manning or Hillis?
KDC: Manning. Brady & Manning are now the Favres of the NFL - the old guns who are burnishing their legends but won't be winning any more championships. The sheer force off Manning's drive to win has been proven by the total collapse of the Colts. If anyone ever doubted his leadership intangibles, they can no longer do that. To see him come back & lead them to the playoffs in 2012 would be a movie. It would also prove that the 3 neck injuries weren't long-lasting. Sadly, I'm afraid it's unlikely we'll ever see Peyton Manning back on the gridiron as anything but a shadow of his former greatness. Neck injuries do that to even the immortals. That's why he needs a bounce back - just to be healthy for the rest of his life.
Momo: Its gotta be Hillis. Peyton Hillis has had a strange season since being on the cover of "Madden Football". He's had leg issues, strep throat, skipped out on a charity event for disadvantaged children, complained about his contract through the press, and had an intervention performed by teammates in the locker room. Peyton Hillis season so far sounds like a scripted TV drama. His problem is this is a lot of the same things that got him ran out of Denver.Hillis needs to line up and play football. Just get back to running downhill and all the other stuff will take care of itself.

2. Which Harbaugh do you see in a championship game, John or Jim?
KDC: The Ravens. I see the 49ers falling to earth when someone makes Alex Smith alone beat them. I'm still unconvinced the Ravens offense is good enough or consistent enough to go to the Super Bowl, but they've had the Patriot's number for a couple years, they seem to have finally hexed Pittsburgh and I'm guessing the Bengals & Texans will eventually wilt due to inexperience with excellence. That leaves the wildly inconsistent (& lucky) Jets. I'm not sure there's anyone in the AFC who can handle the Ravens defense, so if the offense can keep it together . . .
Momo: It's all about Jim and the Niners. Now at the beginning of the season no one would have said that after the Packers, the Niners would be the second best team in the NFC, but that is the case. The Niners are more than likely going to get a bye and homefield at least for their first game. After that, all they need to do is win one game and they are in the NFC Championship game.

3. Did the lockout hurt all the free agent signings this year?
KDC: Maybe that's it. Maybe it's the lockout. But maybe most free agent signings make better headlines than players. The wheels have come off most of Philadelphia's multiple big signings & both of the Patriot's signings (Ochocinco & Haynesworth) are no shows this year. In fact, for every historic signing (think Reggie White to the Packers in 1993) I'm guessing there are 10-12 total busts. It's probably about the same odds as most drafts, except you think you're getting a known quantity (a veteran player) and you're not.
Momo: I believe the lockout has hurt teams who signed free agents get continuity and chemistry. If you look at the teams who are succeeding they are the one's who did not make wholesale changes. The Giants, Jets, Ravens, Packers, Saints and Steelers have been together for a while and that has benefited these teams.

4. This NFL season, just a few good teams or just a lot of bad teams or has the lockout and rules changes made it hard to build excellence?
KDC: I'm afraid there are a lot of bad teams this year. After the Packers, & the 49ers (!), everyone else has been wildly inconsistent. The Ravens can only beat the Steelers, but could lose to anyone else. The Patriots can only put up "Wow!" stats on weak teams. No one trusts the Bengals or Texans or Jets.... I mean, any given week any really bad team can beat a decent team, but is that good football? It's an off year. (& frankly, I love that my Packers are undefeated, but it doesn't make very many games watchable.)
Momo: Its just a lot of bad teams and combined with new rule changes we are now watching some bad football. There is a huge dropoff between the good teams and bad. Just look at the Rams, Dolphins and Colts. If you combine the defenses of Alabama and LSU, those teams might just score 17 points or less. Also the rule changes have virtually made it impossible for defense"s to tackle. Look at the fines this week from the Ravens-Steelers game. The majority of the hits in that game used to be called "good football hits". Now players are getting penalized and their wallets lightened because the league wants higher scoring games. These two things have changed the game we watch.

2 Point Conversion (Week 11)

1. Your Thoughts on the Penn St. scandal:
Droddy: Trying to sum these crimes at Penn St in a few words does not show respect to how big of a story this will end up being. Simply put, the news coming out this week from Happy Valley changed history. It not only changed the way history will remember Joe Paterno, but it will change the way we look at university and small town life. The amount of cover up needed to keep these horrific crimes quiet can be equated to the Catholic church and is yet another example of how we have to watch people closely, regardless of the title they hold. I learned more about Penn State this week that I had ever hoped I would and still have a million questions. I take no pleasure in watching Paterno fail...we were all led to believe he was the last good guy that not only wins with honor, but did it for 60 years. I think after Bobby Bowden and his dinged legacy, college football fans deserved a hero – for that matter …Americans do as well.
BTW – Penn State students…what in the world are you thinking?? Please tell me this is just another chance for you to riot!
Momo: The majority of what I had to say was in my previous post "Not So Happy Valley" but I have one more thing to say about Mike McQueary. It just sickens me to know that he not only didn't save the child out of a bad situation BUT he golfed with Sandusky and was around him at other charity events. Mike heard all of the moral and act with high character speeches, yet when push came to shove he did not utilize those teachings he was given by Paterno. Its so sad that he did not think about the children.

2. Think Bo Pelini is in trouble at Nebraska?
Droddy: No, Nebraska is not going to fire Pelini any time soon. He has some time, but he will have to step up his recruiting (a lot) to be able to compete for the Big10 title on an annual basis. I will have to see it to believe NE can win on a national level again – I just do not believe they will pull the recruits needed (at all positions) to win all their games. That said, just imagine how much NE has done over the years with virtually zero recruiting base to work from so anything is possible.
Momo: Pelini is in a little trouble but he survives one more season. Nebraska has looked flat all season and they have been out hustled badly. The Cornhuskers have been dominated at both lines of scrimmages, in the past Nebraska dominated these areas. I'm not sure the NE can compete nationally again. Dominating in the Big 10 will become more difficult if Ohio St. and Penn St. get top notch coaches.

3. “Who You Got” With another perfect week under my belt , I am 18-6, while Droddy is 17-7. I don’t expect my run to continue but I’ll take it!! Here’s our picks this week:
Nebraska vs. Penn St.
Momo: This game will have a ton of emotion for both teams. Nebraska got ran out of Lincoln by Northwestern last week and its Senior Day for the Lions who will be playing for their former coach. I’ll take PSU because they will need some good news this week but it will be close.
Droddy: Penn State will be able to run with the emotion for this week. I think the PN St wheels come off after this week, very possible they don’t make it that far though.

Auburn vs. Georgia
Momo: I’ll take them Dawgs. Get their running backs back and they need this more than Auburn.
Droddy: Georgia has a lot on the line and just seem to be playing better right now. Should be a good game.

TCU vs. Boise St.
Momo: Boise St. wins this on the blue field, even though they can’t wear their all blue uniforms. Could this game be Kellen Moore’s Heisman moment?
Droddy: Boise State is just better. TCU is not the same TCU team we have seen recently.

Oregon vs. Stanford
Momo: I really wanted to go with Stanford BUT after seeing that they lost another one of Luck’s weapon, I think Oregon wins. It will be closer than last year but the Quack attack has too much offense.
Droddy: Oregon – similar to last year, just too many athletes coming at them at a fast rate to deal with. I think well know early if Stanford can hang in there, they need long established drives and stuff Oregon runs between the tackles.

Not So Happy Valley

This is bigger than football. This is more than a game. This is about right and wrong. This is about good and evil.

The feelings that most fans had about Joe Paterno was this; he was the epitome of what was right about college football. The old coach, who has been at the head of one college football's most prestigious programs, was a man of integrity, class, and a man you wanted your children to follow. After this scandal broke about former coach Sandusky, my views have changed about what Joe Paterno and what Penn State football means. The program with the classic, clean uniforms and image is now tarnished not only in my eyes but in the eyes of a nation. Jumping to conclusions is wrong in any case, and this I know but this isn't about covering up for NCAA violations of cash, cars, or tattoos. This is about how we as parents, brothers, sisters and members of society view our children.

How could Joe turn a blind eye to such despicable acts? How could Penn State University continue to provide a safe haven to Jerry Sandusky on campus by providing him an office. How can these so-called leaders of men not say anything about the disgusting acts that were taken place under their noses for over a decade. In a statement Paterno made last night was that he and his wife pray for his 17 grand kids every night and now they will start praying for the victims. Now you want to pray for the victims?!?!?! That's very noble of you now Joe. You had an opportunity to prevent these atrocities from happening but you passed the buck to someone else and never followed up to see about the victim. You allowed more children to be harmed. Paterno had a moral responsibility as a parent, grandparent, and face of a university to do more.

What blows my mind is that no one acknowledge the victims initially. The school president, who will be removed, backed the former athletic director and VP, rather than acknowledge what a horrible and traumatic event these young children went through. Have we as a society become so desensitized to violence that we look the other way when its happening before our eyes?

The other part of this whole scandal that sickens me is how did a graduate student who witnessed a child being harmed and to not step in and protect the child?!?!? You are 24-25 years old and I know that could have been upsetting but your next reaction is to remove the child from harm's way. What has happen to us as a people when we stop protecting children. This was someone's son, brother, nephew, friend who was already in an at-risk situation and went to the community for helped and the right people from a school president, to the football coach or an assistant just turned their back and continue to let the child suffer. Its appalling and just breaks my heart. Can we have real men to stand up and lead and not worry about the university or legacies or their jobs. In the case of the assistant coach, if the school would have fired you for turning in Sandusky then so be it. You would have prevented the hurt that was felt by many other children and there are more coaches that would have hired a guy with upstanding principals and morals than one who just ran away.

Finally the students out in support of Paterno don't really have a clue what the victims are going through. Abuse like this never goes away and some victims can barely deal with it. The hurt becomes a part of you and future relationships can be damaged. Holding a rally in support of a coach is only good if the coach DID THE RIGHT THING!!! Its not about football, its not about wins and losses. It's about adults not acting like adults. Covering up a crime to protect an image. And making victims relive a horrific and painful part of their life that they will never forget. The innocence that once was Happy Valley, Pa, was lost when the school turned its back on the very people it should have been protecting.
The children.

Momo's Munchies

It's Tuesday so time for some past thoughts from this weekend's games:

1. The Game Of The Century was just a defensive battle. All the hype that surrounded it and you basically saw a defensive scrimmage between LSU and Alabama. Both squads have some super elite defenders that could honestly hold Colts offense to about 10 points. I do not want to see a rematch because I want to see these defense's play against a top-flight quarterback like Andrew Luck or Kellen Moore.

2. Why do fans complain so much about the BCS? When Alabama loses a game and only drops one or two spots, just angers people. No disrespect to the Crimson Tide but prior to LSU their toughest games was against Arkansas. They always talk about scheduling when it goes to the smaller school to schedule tougher opponents. But in this case, by having a weak schedule Alabama is in a position to return to the title game. Stop punishing the smaller schools when its convenient. Boise St. has played and beaten their toughest opponent as well.It's shameful.

3. How bad is the Pac-12 South Divison? Since USC is not eligible for postseason play, by winning on Saturday against Arizona St, a 5-4 UCLA team controls its own destiny. Not good for a so called premier conference.

4. The most entertaining game on Saturday was K-State and Okla St. It was the polar opposite of LSU-Bama. These two teams scored a combined 97 points. Absolutely no defense was played in this game. Everyone was so captivated with the Game of Century in the SEC that they missed a highly entertaining one in the Big 12.

5. Things cannot be good in Nebraska after the Huskers lost to Northwestern on Saturday. They lost to the Wildcats at home and to their backup quarterback. The "Black Shirts" are not intimidating anymore. I remember a day when teams went up to Lincoln and came out battered and bruised. On Saturday, Northwestern was the tougher team and beat the Cornhuskers at their own game.

6. I said that before in previous post about some coaches, they just seem to out think themselves instead of making the right call. One of my favorite sports writer's describes his thoughts about the Rams losing on Sunday to the Cardinals. Here is a snipet from Bernie Miklasz:"On offense, coordinator Josh McDaniels seems to be suffering from the Smartest Guy in the Room Complex. Instead of implementing some simple but highly effective pass plays -- for example more frequent use of the quick slant, which is a terrific counter to blitzing defenses -- we see all of this fancy stuff that takes too long to develop. That makes it easy for defensive coordinators to get to Bradford behind the vulnerable Rams O-line."
McDaniels definitely has this complex and that is what essentially got him fired from Denver Broncos head coaching job. He felt that his system was the best and McDaniels ran Cutler and Brandon Marshall out of town. Now, he is wasting away a good talent like Sam Bradford. Ultimately this will be laid at the feet of Steve Spagnolua. What he should have done is hired a coach that used the similar offense that they used last year. You can read more here at Bernie's Bites.

7. Albert Haynesworth got released by the Patriots today. Who couldn't see that coming. 3 tackles in 6 games is not worth the time. The next to go will be Chad Ochocinco. Its nice to see Belichick's magic dust is starting not to work.

8. Can we officially stick a fork in the Eagles? Because their season is DONE. So much for the Dream Team. At least the Miami Heat made the NBA Finals.

9. I will post about the Joe Paterno situation separately.

Thanks for reading....

End Zone (Week 8)

1. Most surprising team at the midway point..
KDC: Gotta be the Bengals. As surprising as the Bills are, most people thought the Bengals might win 5 games all season, not 5 out of 7. Yes, it will likely crash & burn as they play division opponents, but still - what a fun ride for them so far!
Momo: For me its the Buffalo Bills. No one figured that a team of castoffs would be contending for the playoffs this year. Sure the Bills showed flashes at the end of last year but to be i the mix for the AFC East is something that even their fans have to be shocked about. Everyone expected this team to be competing for Andrew Luck and they went and gave Ryan Fitzpatrick a long-term deal. What a great year for a city that wants and deserves a winner.

2. Most disappointing team at the midway point...
KDC: Gotta be the Colts. We've talked about them plenty already, but without coaching & locker room leadership, they're helplessly adrift & nearly out of a playoff race they're used to dominating. I like em, but this year has exposed them as a team w/out a heart.
Momo: I'm probably going to surprise you with this but the San Diego Chargers have been very disappointing. Rivers leads NFL quarterbacks in turnovers, Gates, Jackson, Floyd have not been producing and their defense can barely get anybody off the field. As much talent as this team is suppose to have, they can never seem to get out of their own way. This team is poorly coached and cannot execute in the clutch.


3. Bigger game for Tebow or Palmer on Sunday?
KDC: Palmer has to justify 2 No. 1 draft picks, as well as disprove the Bengals treatment of him as a non-factor. He's got a serious challenge ahead of him & I'm guessing it'll be 2-3 more weeks before we know if he's any good. I can't imagine there must be a worse feeling in football than to have (Bengal's owner) Mike Brown declared being right about something.
Momo: As bad as both guys were two weeks ago, and they were bad, I just think Tebow has to show some ability to play the position better. This game is bigger for him because if he wants to be considered a quarterback in this league then he needs to start showing it. Tim is auditioning for other team as a a backup and needs to show more than running ability. Of course the game plan has to be tailored as such to show his strengths and not his weakness's. Its great that Tim's teammates believe in him now he has to reward them by raising his level of play.

4. Who needs a win more on Sunday, the Steelers or Ravens?
KDC: The Ravens, because the Steelers just beat the Patriots, while the Ravens barely beat the Cardinals & lost to Jacksonville. You really have to wonder if Baltimore has the offense to actually win big games anymore.
Momo: The Steelers need this more. What happened to them in Baltimore at the beginning of the year was not Steeler like. The Ravens manhandled and humiliated them in Baltimore. If the Steelers want to get their swagger back then Sunday's game is it.

2 Point conversion (Week 10)

1. Most surprising team so far this season...
Droddy: I will say the Clemson Tigers have surprised me the most. We've seen Clemson field great athletes every year for more than a decade and do next to nothing with it. I know they lost to Georgia Tech last week, but for them to be 8-0 to that point was stunning. They are still in the driver's seat for an ACC championship crown - a test they have never been able to pass.
Momo: Most surprising team to me so far has been Oklahoma St. They have always been the leftout stepchild in Oklahoma but this years team has so far exceeded my expectations. If you look at the fact that they control their destiny not only in the Big 12 but in the BCS title game, that is way better than most people would have expected. Normally this time of year we hear a lot of "Boomer Sooner" chants but the Cowboys are making believers out of everyone. Honorable mention to Clemson and South Carolina and Vandy for being competitive.

2. Most disappointing team this season...
Droddy: Starting in the top 5, its hard not to say Florida State as the most disappointing team. That said, they were overrated to begin with and they lost their QB for the toughest stretch of their season. Plenty of teams would lose those games without an experienced signal caller. Honorable mentions to the Florida Gators in this category, they not only have lost they have been embarrassed more often than not and we have been told they have the best recruits for the last 5 seasons or so.
Momo: I have to agree with Florida St. as well but I will also throw in Missouri. The Tigers were a top 1 team and I thought that was a little high for a team with a first-year starter at quarterback. Not only has James Franklin had an up and down season as the new trigger man but the Tigers defense has been awful at forcing teams off the field. Everyone figured the defense would keep the offense in the game but that has not been the case. Honorable mention to Notre Dame and Florida. Maybe Muschamp should have stayed in Austin for another year.


3. Better game coach Les Miles or Nick Saban?
Droddy: Being a lifelong LSU fan, I am torn on this question. I have seen every game they have coached since joining the SEC - I've paid special attention to Alabama over the last 5 years for some reason. In fact, I have asked myself this same question more than once of the years. I can honestly say I believe Miles is a better "game coach" than Saban. Reason being is Miles just seems to have that extra feel for when to call his trick plays, to keep pounding the ball at an opponent or when to put the other QB in the game. There's nothing tangible to point to other than Saban saying the following after LSU beat Bama last year "we just weren't ready for what LSU was going to do today" - that speaks volumes. Again speaking from seeing their teams, you know what you're going to get with Saban on a week to week basis...Miles, you just can't pin him down to one play or even a style of play - this allows him to be more versatile in game situations. I will concede Saban is probably a better judge of talent and has the ability to put people in the right situations to succeed - examples from his LSU days were Josh Reed and Devery Henderson started LSU playing running back...both ended up being NFL receivers.
Momo: This is a tough one because I believe both coaches bring different styles to their teams when it comes to "in-game" coaching. I agree with Droddy on Miles in games touch. No one can question he certainly lets his guys play free and easy and I think that's a big factor on why they win. Saban on the other hand doesn't deviate from his gameplan too often and he has a certain swagger that his guys feed on. Its that belief in his attention to detail and planning and the trust it creates with his team that gives his guys an unrelenting edge when they play top notch opponents. His players trust that the scheme is right and the excution is going to follow. So when tough situations arise they do not panic and are able to shine and make big plays.

4. "Who You Got" I had a perfect week last week and we are now tied with record of 14-6. Here's our picks for this week:

South Carolina v. Arkansas
Droddy: SC wins - Arkansas has been begging to lose the last few weeks, I think SC can finally grant that wish. Has there ever been a top 10 matchup ignored like this one?
Momo: I don't even know that mot of the country knows these two teams are playing. What a fantastic weekend in the SEC. I'm going to take the Hogs at home. I think the loss of Lattimore will finally be felt.

Kansas St. v. Okla St.
Droddy: OK St wins - K St was exposed last week and the bleeding wont stop this week.
Momo: Oklahoma St. wins and wins big. This is probably one of the last weeks Kansas St. is in the top 25.

Oregon v. Washington
Droddy: Oregon wins - Washington has an offense, but not enough defense to hang in there.
Momo: A part of you always want to take Washington at home in a night game in Seattle but the Ducks have too much offense. The Huskies will make it tough though.

And the big one
LSU v. Alabama
Droddy: LSU wins - Sure you can take this with a grain of salt after my LSU confession above, but I have called for LSU to lose before...just not this one. In huge games everything imaginable is looked at stats wise - in most categories Bama has the better numbers. What is being lost in the stat comparison is the competition the stats were posted against. Here is a small example, LSU has played 3 teams (Oregon, Auburn, Mississippi St) with a better rushing offense than Bama's BEST opponent (Vanderbilt) - sort of puts the "best defense ever" talk into perspective. With common opponents (Tennessee and Florida) the stats and scores were very similar. I think for the most part the stats are very similar when you keep strength of schedule in the conversation. Once one moves past looking at stats for a definitive edge, you have to look differences in the teams. The most glaring is experience at the QB spot and punting. LSU's punter of the best in the nation while Bama's has been a weakness for the season - these teams rely on field position and LSU should own this piece of the game. Also, in enormous games you want the QB that has been there before - LSU has 2 and Bama has none. When the running game stalls and you need a QB to make a play, I'll go with the team with the QB(s) that has seen numerous SEC defenses over the years.
Momo: LSU wins this one and here's why. In watching Alabama play all season I have noticed that they have struggled to find a rhythm on the offensive side of the ball until the second half of games. Of course, you think its a big game and they will be up for this one but I think at this point of the season you are who you are and these guys are slow starters. All that slow starting will put them behind against LSU because the Tigers are led by upperclassmen on the offensive side of the ball. I believe the Tigers senior quarterbacks give them edge over the Tide. Also, like Droddy said LSU's special teams gives them another edge in field position. Don't be surprised if Miles calls some fake punts or field goals to catch Alabama off guard.

Momo's Munchies

1. Wisconsin has had a tough couple of weeks. Losing on back to back Hail Mary plays in two weeks. That has to mess with a team's psyche.

2. I am not a fan of Lane kiffin but what happened to USC against Stanford Saturday night was wrong. The Pac-12 should not have fined Kiffin because the player was clearly out of bounds and a timeout could have been granted. That would have given USC a chance at a 50 yard field goal and the win against Stanford.

3. Matt Barkley(pictured above) is going to be a very good pro quarterback. Barkley doesn't get nearly the attention of Andrew Luck but what he's done at USC during these tough years has been phenomenal.

4. What is that loud crash you heard on Saturday night? That was the undefeated seasons of Clemson and Kansas St. coming back down to Earth.

5.Saddest game on Saturday was the Arkansas-Vanderbilt matchup. Vandy was going in to score and be up by 21 points in the 3rd quarter when they fumbled the ball away and the Razorbacks recoverd and returned it for a touchdown. Of course after that, the wheels fell apart and the Coomodores missed a chip shot to tie the game. Vanderbilt football in the words of Denny Green, "You are what we thought you were!" A program that can't win a big game against a ranked opponent.

6.What is wrong with Philip Rivers? Leading the league in interceptions and fumbling the ball away in a critical situation. The Chargers and Rivers just look out of sync.

7. It's so disrespectful of the Lions to mock Tim Tebow and his prayers during a game. You can trash talk, dance and act a fool when making plays in football. But treading on some one's faith who doesn't openly proselytize people is shameful and sends the wrong message to football fans.

8. The Cowboys laid down on Sunday night against the Eagles. Rob Ryan trying to take the blame for the loss when he isn't the head coach. Sure the Eagles scored against Ryan's defense but where is the offense. America's so-called team is truly dysfunctional. Where is the leadership n this team?

9. Will the real Chris Johnson please stand up!?!? 2.9 yards per carry, AFTER you got the money. That's stealing and shame on him for not being prepared for the season. The Titans believe in running the ball and Johnson is being outplayed by backup Javon Ringer. Mike Munchak said he will split time between the two, I would just play the guy who is working hard even if he isn't the star. Wonder has Chris Johnson knows who Wally Pipp is?

10. Did anyone notice how poorly the defense of the Saints and Patriots are playing? The Saints got ran over by the second-string quarterback in A.J. Feely. And the Pats have the worse defense in the league. Neither Drew Brees nor Tom Brady can score enough to cover up for their teams defensive poor play.



Bonus:
Congrats to the World Series Champions St. Louis Cardinals!!! What a wild and fun ride they put us on the last two months. It was great to see my city celebrate another championship.

End Zone (Week 7)

1. More likely a 16-0 Packers team or an 0-16 Rams, Colts or Dolphins?
KDC: First, I doubt an of these teams will have a "0" on one side of their records, but . . . I think it's most likely the Dolphins will go winless because: 1) they're easily the worst team in a strong division (6 losses right there, while the Rams have a decent shot to beat any team in their division; the Colts have a shot at beating Tennessee on pride alone); 2) no one seems to be in synch w/each other from coaches on down; 3) ownership seems disinclined to move before year's end. Low motivation, disunity, shallow talent pool... yeah, they could hit 0-16 this year. (Also, how come Bill Parcells isn't getting any heat for setting up this debacle several years ago? Then he bailed as it went bad... He's the GM version of Nick Saban. Hissss! )
Momo: This is good because recently we had the Pats go undefeated and Lions winless in the same season. I can see the Pack going undefeated but a lot of teams like to rest their starters instead of chasing history. The Colts have a real chance to be winless but I doubt it happens because Manning will come back and play. For argument sake I think the Rams could go winless and it could be because of their defense. Although they do play in the NFC West and they have games against Seattle and Arizona, they haven't shown any type of consistency on the offense or defensive side of the ball. The Rams lack playmakers o both side of the ball and that could spell danger for the rest of the season.



2. Fair that Jim Caldwell is on the hotseat for the Colts struggle?
KDC: I’m afraid so. Honestly, how could the loss of one player –even one as great as Peyton Manning—turn a Super Bowl team two years ago into 0-7? Caldwell mismanaged that Super Bowl, they struggled last year, & now we see the entire organization in flames. Everyone saw this lackluster play in the preseason but their only major move was to bring Kerry Collins in..? (Really?) I don’t think the Polians have any reason to keep their jobs either, as they don’t seem to have planned for any type of future. And where are the locker room leaders? This is like case study#1 in obliviousness at all levels.
Momo:What a difference two years makes. Think about this if the Colts win the Super Bowl two years ago then Caldwell has some extra time even with the loss of Manning this year to turn it around. Injuries have decimated this team but you can't use that as an excuse. The Colts have made some bad personnel choices that have put Caldwell in this position. I think maybe a change in defensive strategy might be warranted than at the head coaching spot. Although, Caldwell had a losing record as a coach at Wake Forest and that could get him out of Indy by next year if they keep this up.

3. My one big thought for this week:
KDC: Nothing said more to me about the dominance of football in our sports culture than last Saturday night, when Albert Pujols had a legendary night in the World Series. It was literally unequaled by anyone in the history of post-season baseball (& maybe in all of baseball’s 16,000+ game history). Still, most of the Saturday night sports coverage superceded Pujols to highlight the exciting end of a college football game between two programs nowhere close to the all-time greats. Yes, most major media and web sites decided Michigan State beating Wisconsin was more exciting than the best single performance in World Series baseball. The NFL is the reason why football reigns in North America today no matter what other sports achieve.
Momo: How well rookie quarterbacks are fairing so far in the league. Not sure if the lockout has anything to do with it or the college programs are preparing these guys better, but this rookie class of quarterbacks are holding their own so far. Cam Newton has been spectacular for Carolina. Andy Dalton has the Bengals contending for a playoff spot. Blaine Gabbert just knocked off the Ravens on Monday night, while Christian Ponder has shown flashes for the Vikings. The future looks bright for all these guys.


4. I’m struck by . . .
KDC: … how Denver’s Tim Tebow is being treated by the media as if the game is in a Tebow-only vacuum. Yeah his numbers weren’t pretty & he didn’t blossom until the last 3 minutes, but the Broncos traded away their best receiver to the Rams just last week. The Broncos staff created the lame game plan he followed. (& wasn’t John Fox fired for helping run the Carolina franchise into the ground?) The team is a joke. Tebow’s basically a rookie QB learning the position. His teammates obviously stuck with him. He won the game. But he’s still not the answer. What? He may not be the ultimate answer, but they’ve got to stop asking the wrong questions.
Momo: The fact that if the 49ers win two more games they will have clinched the NFC West. This is special because of where this team was last year and the years prior. The once proud franchise has seen some lean years with Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary. Jim Harbaugh has lead aa resurgence and this is with small hands Alex Smith at quarterback. Harbaugh has turned the former first rounder into a efficient passer. The other part of this is how sad the NFC West is. None of the team besdes the Niners are any good.

2 Point Conversion (Week 9)

1. More surprising the Oklahoma loss or the way Wisconsin loss?
Momo: That Oklahoma beatdown was more surprising to me. OU had a 39 game unbeaten streak at home and got ran off the field by Tech. I don’t think too many people saw the Sooners getting beat like they did at home. Texas Tech just took it to OU and dominated them in every facet of the game. Just a shocking loss by a talented Sooner team. But we have seen many talented teams overlook good opponents before.
Droddy: I do not think anyone can dispute the chokelahoma loss was a much more of a surprise than Wisconsin losing to a good Spartan team. Nearly a 30 point favorite at home and not only lost, but were dominated for a good portion of the game. I am watching the replay and TX Tech owned the line of scrimmage a ton, it is amazing how many big games OK has been favored in only to lose in embarrassing fashion. When you look back over their recent run to an “elite” program, what have they really done other than win games against inferior opponents? After their one national title 10 years ago, they really haven’t accomplished much on the national level except for epic meltdowns.

2. Better chance of making the National title game Boise St. or Stanford?
Momo: Of course Droddy will say I’m siding with the little guy and say they don’t play real football but its Boise St. and it’s simply because of their schedule. The toughest game they have left is San Diego St. The Broncos are in a position to move up if Stanford and Oklahoma St. lose a game down the stretch. Stanford on the other hand has a tough games against USC and Oregon and if they survive that they still have to play a PAC-12 Championship game. That is too tough off a schedule to overcome and make it to the National Title game.
Droddy: Believe it or not, I like Boise St. and what they do and how they get it done. I love how they are able to be physical while spreading people out and how they ALWAYS have a very good defense that starts with aggressive linemen. They are able to take those 1-3 star kids (ones you never hear about) and put them in the right spots to make plays and creates stars. Although their recent QB (Moore) has appeared to bring them to new levels, this isn’t new…they are constantly putting accurate QBs out there that just make plays. That said, the game of college football is NOT a playoff…unfortunately. Meaning we use the BCS and the system it is not going to work for a team like Boise St …probably ever. People often make the mistake that this is a playoff from day one and if you lose, you are done…this is direct contrast to what the BCS actually does. The BCS is setup to look at the ENTIRE season and determine who is the MOST worthy of playing for the national title.The reason LSU is #1 right now in the BCS is not only due to human polls, but because of their schedule to date and how computers rate the body of work. This is also why the computers have crazy rankings for team throughout the year (seen LSU as low as 7) most of the formulas are reliant on an entire season to come out correctly, which the usually do. So at the end of the day, when people and computers look back over the whole season they both have a hard time justifying an undefeated Boise st. deserving it more than a one loss BCS conference team. This is also why I hope Boise St can find a conference to join or just drop down and play at a different level that determines their titles on the field.

With a stellar 3-1 weekend, I am now only one game back in out “Who You Got” game.Droddy is 11-5 and I am 10-6 for the year. Here’s our picks for this weekend matchups:
Mich St. vs. Nebraska
Momo: I'm going to cautiously take Nebraska. Simply because they are at home.
Droddy: Nebraska

Oklahoma vs. Kansas St.
Momo: Oklahoma in a revenge for the loss to Texas Tech
Droddy: Oklahoma

Stanford vs. USC
Momo: Stanford but it will be their toughest test to date. Their NCAA record of wins by 25 or more ends this weekend.
Droddy: Stanford

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
Momo: I'm going to take Georgia Tech in the upset.
Droddy: Clemson

Momo's Munchies

It's Tuesday so it Munchies time:

1. The way Wisconsin loss was heartbreaking for the Badgers, but the game was incredible. The downfall of Wisconsin was not playing a little tougher schedule and therefore I don't think they were preoared to play this game. the toughest team they played until Saturday was Nebraska. Also Russell Wilson Heisman chances faded away on that night.

2. Someone should have told Texas Tech that Oklahoma had a 39 game win streak home. The Red Raiders rolled the Sooners. I actually thought the score was wrong but flipped over and saw the destruction for myself.

3. Alabama will be in big trouble if they sleepwalk in the first half against LSU. The games I've seen of them the Tide have a lot oftrouble starting fast and putting teams away early.

4. LSU looks really dominant. The players better realize that they have a rare opportunity to do something great and the spotlight is on them. Doing drugs, getting in trouble with law is not putting the team first.

5. The losses of Oklahoma and Wisconsin cracks the door open for Boise St. in the title game. Doubt that will happen.

6. I know professional athletes are suppose to be good at their craft but Kyle Boller of the Raiders is not a good quarterback. On Sunday, he threw for 71 yards for his team and 67 yards to the Chiefs. At last he is married to a model because quarterbacking a pro team is not in his long-term future.

7. The Redskins quarterback situation is a mess. By not drafting a quarterback and grooming him to run their offense, Mike Shanahan is losing control over his team. The locker room for some strange reason believes in Rex Grossman while Shanahan loves John Beck. Neither guy is the answer and this once proud franchise with a great history is suffering.

8. Today's NFL feels like I'm being transferred back into the 80's and 90's. Back 20and 30 years ago, only a few teams dominated professional football. Now its the same teams in the conversation for a championship and its been like that for five and ten years. The gulf between good teams and bad teams that parity is not evident.

9. The Broncos brass really love putting Tebow in a now win situation. The funny thing is all this kid does is find a way to win.

End Zone (Week 6)

1. Thoughts on Carson Palmer possibly starting on Sunday after not playing all season.
KDC: He got what he wanted. Now let's see if he got what he wanted.
Momo: In this crazy world may have gotten the best of the deal. The raiders get a 31year-old quarterback with a bad knee, shoulder and elbow. That sounds like a winner right there. Add to that Palmer hasn't played all season and a semi decent receiving corp and the Raiders got a steal (hope you hear the sarcasm in my writing). Secretly the Bengals want the Raiders to do well because their draft pick improves if the Raiders go to the AFC Championship game. With that said, its no way I would start him on Sunday. Just tells you how bad Kyle Boller is.

2. Thoughts on Harbaugh and Schwartz min-scuffle
KDC: I don't think I've ever seen a coach slap another one so hard on the back as Harbaugh did Schwartz. I'm not sure I've ever seen a coach slap another on the back period. If he also, as Schwartz claimed, included an expletive, then Harbaugh needed to be fined. Schwartz however how much he was emotionally hurt by the broken streak, shouldn't have chased Harbaugh down like a moron. I mean, what was he going to accomplish by doing that? Nothing but trouble. Save it for a revenge game. You're likely to meet in the playoffs. Fine him too! (I know the NFL fined neither, but still.)
Momo: Probably the strangest handshake I have ever seen. Both guys are fiery individuals who's team feed off that fire. Neither guy looks good in the eyes of the public but Schwartz looks worse by running down another coach. These two teams will match again and "Shakegate" will play itself out on the field.

3. Think the Packers are too complacent?
KDC: Against the Rams. yes. But I doubt they'll be this way against real opponents. I doubt they'll go unbeaten (talking about it this early is plain stupid), even with a weak schedule, but they're continuing to make the plays that count and I expect that to continue.
Momo: There is a true danger here, especially after watching the end of the Rams game. The trouble that Green Bay could have is peaking so early and being defending champs that their focus could get loss and play to the level of competition. The top thing about being on top is trying to recreate the same passion when you are on the bottom. The leadership of this team better step up and remind everyone that they just can't turn it on when the lights are the brightest.

4. Better shot at the playoffs, Raiders or the Bengals?
KDC: The Raiders, even w/ the new QB because it's the organization showing the players they are determined to make the playoffs this year. Now what are you going to do. What the players have done is run up a great record against some strong opponents. I don't see that slowing down with their owner's death & their starting QB being injured & out. The Raiders have a mission & the talent to accomplish the mission. I wouldn't be surprised if they won the division, but will only predict a Wild Card spot behind San Diego.
Momo: Just because I said the Raiders got hosed doesn't mean I don't believe in the Bengals. The Bengals have a tough 5 defense and are doing amazing things with a rookie quarterback that everyone overlooked in the draft because he didn't go to a BCS conference. Andy Dalton is solid and has led the team to two comeback wins. With A.J. Green emerging as a real superstar there is something really special happening in the Queen City. Marvin Lewis should get a lot of credit for reinventing this team and having them in this position. Their schedule is a little tough because they have both the Steelers and Ravens twice but the rest of it is winnable.

2 Point Conversion (Week 8)

Its Friday so its time for another edition of the 2 Point Conversion:

1.Is the top ten of College football that much better than everyone else?
Momo: It seems that way. A quick glance of the top 2 5 and there is no one outside of the top 10 that has a legitimate shot at a championship. With people a little upset with the amount of undefeated teams, when study those teams undefeated in the top 25 only about 5 have a real shot at going undefeated. Teams like Clemson, Houston will lose a game in the next few weeks. There have not been any major upsets either.
Droddy:Excluding Boise St.,I would agree there is a big difference in the top 10 and the rest of the nation. I would even take it a step further and say LSU and Alabama are the 2 great teams this year while the rest of the top 10 are very good teams. There will be upsets and things will sort themselves out, just like most years.

2.Thoughts on Missouri going to the SEC:
Momo: This is a bad move for the football team. The Tigers have made great in-roads from being an also ran to a top tier team in the Big 12. The Tigers are making in- roads in the Texas recruiting base, not huge like 5-star players but enough to start churning first round picks and garnering top ranked recruiting class. The move to the SEC will not vault the Tigers into a top tier SEC team, if anything it will set their program back for years. The SEC competition is the best and Mizzou will have an extremely difficult time competing with the likes of LSU, Alabama and Florida for top recruits. I know the administration is afraid that the Big 12 is too shaky and may not survive but it really is the best fit for them.
Droddy: I think this is a good move by Missouri. They get to leave the unstable B12 and make more money while doing so. Assuming they put the money to good use, like building up the infrastructure their recruiting will get much better. They have natural recruiting bases in Kansas City and St. Louis and places like Chicago will not be a stretch for kids wanting to play in the SEC. Lets face it, Missouri was not a top tier B12 team and they certainly will not be in the SEC, but now they have something to sell in the Midwest that Oklahoma and Texas cant.

3.Is it fair to penalize Kellen Moore in the Heisman race because of the schedule he plays?
Momo: This happens every year to players outside of the major conferences. Their stats are looked upon as inferior because of the competition they play. You can make cases for past players outside of the BCS conferences in the past like Steve McNair, Randy Moss and Marshall Faulk. Moore play speaks for itself and he should be treated as a legitimate contender. Moore does not make the schedule and he does is play the games.
Droddy: Here we go again with the tears for poor ole Boise State! Here is another way to phrase the question, why should we penalize the Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson and Griffen’s of the world for not putting up Playstation like numbers because they actually play a schedule? Kellen Moore has played about 5 real teams over his ENTIRE career versus the other contenders that deal with that annually. Yes, I believe Moore is a GREAT player and should make the trip to New York, but the award is for big boy football which Boise does not know about. For every player that turned out to be great in the NFL from the non BCS conferences there are plenty that were busts and there will be many more – looking at you David Carr, David Klingler, and Andre Ware.

4.Droddy leads in our “Who You Got” competition by going 4-0 last week. Droddy is 9-3 and I’m 7-5. Here’s our picks for this weekends top games:

Okla. St. vs. Mizzou
Momo: This has trap game written all over it for the Cowboys. Mizzou is coming off a lack luster showing against K-State and need a win like this to make their season. I can’t go against the cowboys although it will be close because OK. St. defense is not that good.
Droddy: Im going out on a limb here – MO Tigers take this one. OK St has a suspect defense…again.

Auburn vs. LSU
Momo: LSU, even with a couple of starters out.
Droddy: LSU dominates. Better in every phase and at home. I think Auburn is even worse off now with the suspended Tigers – this just assures LSU will give AU their undivided attention.

Wisconsin vs. Mich St.
Momo: As much as I like Wisconsin, when you take a good look at who they played their toughest opponent has been Nebraska, otherwise the Badgers haven’t played anyone. I gotta go out on a limb and take Mich St. in an upset because of their defense.
Droddy: Stanford, but I think the Cardinal fans have to sweat this one out. Washington is much improved over years past.

Washington vs. Stanford
Momo: Andrew Luck and the Cardinal win another but this time not by 25.
Droddy: Wisconsin wins a close one.