Look out Heisman frontrunners. Case Keenum has more Big 12 wins than Texas, and his schedule only gets easier from here.
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Five Things Learned
1.) Miami has no O line/Beamer Ball still works
I told you so. Miami was getting more love than they guy who cleans Bret Michaels’ hot tub, and they flopped. They played a team with a good pass rush and a decisive game plan, and they busted. The Hurricanes are not there yet. Not even close really. FSU and Georgia Tech aren’t that good. Anyone disagree now? After waltzing through a supposedly tough early schedule, Miami came up against a legitimate opponent (that narrow loss to Bama looks a little better now, huh?) in VT, and they couldn’t handle the pressure. Literally. Jacory Harris was sacked three times, twice by All-America DE Jason Worilds, and never quite looked comfortable in the pocket. After stymying the Yellow Jackets and Seminoles, OT Jason Fox & Co. came up short and failed to buy any time for their sophomore passer. Miami couldn’t relax, Harris had no time, and the offense never clicked.
And then, just to rub it in, Jacob Sykes blocked a punt and the Hokies added another TD with minutes to go in the first half. After a performance like that, Miami has to be wondering whether they’re up to the task of slowing down one of the most talented defensive lines in the country when Oklahoma visits this weekend.
2.) LSU has no offense
Seriously. There’s no nice way to say it. Sugarcoating it would give LSU more offensive flavor in one sentence than they’ve shown all season. Those 31 points at Washington that appeared to trickle in are now the flagship scores for an offense that put up 35+ five times a year ago. What has happened to the offensive line? What’s happened to Charles Scott? Why can’t Jordan Jefferson hit the broad side of a Bengal?
Without a miraculous punt return and goal line stand handed down from on high, LSU would be looking at a 3-1 record with a loss to the SEC’s worst team. Now they’ve got a shaky 4-0 slate, a loftier-than-deserved ranking, and a trip to Athens that hasn’t been kind to the Tigers in the past. The defense is shaping up, but until Keiland Williams pushes Scott into junior form, or seizes the starting job himself, this team is going to struggle to score. With all of that skill power, someone has to start finding the endzone on a consistent basis.
3.) Florida can win with defense
First Sam Bradford hurts his shoulder. Then Colt McCoy catches the flu and drops his completion percentage. And now the mighty Tim Tebow has fallen. With a monster shot and a knee to the head, Superman took a dose of Kentucky kryptonite and suffered a whale of a concussion. Of course Florida was already up 31-7.
And after losing their leader, with a 24 point lead, when it would have been easy to lay down just a bit, Florida hung in there and held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half. In fact, Kentucky managed only 179 total yards. Sure, this was Kentucky not Texas Tech, and the Cats haven’t been an offensive powerhouse in years, but 179 is 179. People will be quick to throw the Gators under the bus if Tebow misses time, but let’s not forget about the Oklahoma and LSU teams that have won the title with defense before. And how about this same defense (exact same) that held the Sooners’ record-setting scoring machine to only 14 last season. Florida will need Tebow to win the BCS Title Game there’s no doubt, but they might not need him to get there.
4.) Jimmy Clausen looks like the top pick
With Bradford still injured, Jevan Snead reverting to 4th grade form, Tim Tebow concussed and hampered by the spread offense, Jimmy Clausen is looking more and more like the first pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. He’s got the best stat line in the country (10 TDs to only 1 INT and nearly 300 yards a game), a gutsy comeback win over and underrated Purdue team, and a golden helmet that still carries more weight than it should. Not to mention the fact that he plays in a pro-friendly offense under a former NFL coordinator. He’s got enough arm strength, good size, decent mobility, and has improved his decision making more than any of the other contenders.
If the worst team in the NFL is in need of a QB, and that’s usually the case, Clausen could become the first Notre Dame player taken first overall in quite some time.
5.) Parity exists
This doesn’t need much explanation. In four weeks of college football we’ve already seen USC and Ohio State drop a game. Notre Dame lost a big one to Michigan despite having the “easiest” schedule around. Cal lost to Oregon while ranked in the top six. Oklahoma dropped an all-timer of an upset to BYU, who promptly bent over for FSU. Ole Miss couldn’t handle the top five spotlight on the road against South Carolina. LSU is still alive, but needed a brown bag to breath in after barely escaping Mississippi State. Florida, invincible Florida, gave Tennessee more than a few chances to steal one. Houston asserted themselves in a back-and-forth win over fifth-ranked Oklahoma State.
Where does it end? Probably nowhere. LSU is ripe for an upset in this weekend’s trip to Georgia. If they glance ahead to the Florida game for even a second, they’ll be in for a fight. Florida has looked more vulnerable than anyone predicted and now might have to face their toughest road test without Tim Tebow. Texas has limped through a few victories against subpar competition and still must take on Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. And Miami just isn’t who “we” thought they were. College Football is ripe with parity, get used to it. LSU may soon share the honor of being the only two-loss national champ.
Top Three Individual Performances
1.) Chad Jones, S, LSU
Without him, LSU loses to Mississippi State. Let that sink in. Without his 93 yard punt return in the 4th quarter, the big bad Tigers would be 3-1 and 1-1 in SEC play. Without his batted pass on 3rd and goal, Tyson Lee would have tossed a world-shaking upset touchdown. And without his tackle on 4th and goal, LSU wouldn’t be ranked fourth in the nation. He’s finally coming into his own as a free safety, and his ability to make clutch plays is keeping a dead Tigers’ offense from kinking a perfect record. There haven’t been many instances of one player winning a game like this one in the history of the sport.
2.) Tate Forcier, QB, Michigan
Here he is again. Tate Forcier is making quite a name for himself. Apparently knocking off Notre Dame with a scintillating display of 4th quarter heroics wasn’t enough for the freshman. After Indiana took a late lead, Forcier put the Wolverines on his back and up by three with a seven yard TD scamper followed by a two-point plunge into the endzone. When Indiana regained the advantage, Forcier took the field again. With a dinged wing and three minutes left on the clock, Forcier found Martavious Odoms for a 26 yard scoring strike on third and six. That was it. The unbeatable, unflappable Forcier proved yet again that special things are happening in Ann Arbor.
3.) Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
If it weren’t for the Irishbane freshman, Clausen could have had the signature come-from-behind victory of the weekend. With the truf agitating his toe, Clausen re-entered the game late in the fourth and decided that one loss was enough for now for Notre Dame. Down four, Jimmy found tight end Kyle Rudolph from two-yards out with only 25 ticks left on the clock. Pretty impressive for a guy who was benched due to injury earlier in the game. On the final drive, Clausen went six for nine for 69 yards and a season-saving score. Did I use the word impressive yet?
Top Three Worst Performances
1.) Miami O Line
Yeah, we’ve been over this one. The Canes looked like Tarzan against Georgia Tech and Florida State and played like Jane on the road in Blacksburg. After allowing only one sack in the previous two games, the Miami blockers opened up and waved to Jacory Harris as he hit the dirt time and again, thrice with the ball in his hands. If Virginia Tech can generate that kind of pressure on Miami’s passer, imagine what Gerald McCoy, Demarcus Granger, Auston English, and Jeremy Beal can bring. When you can’t handle the spotlight, it’s time to get back to the basics. In this case, it’s learning to get your hands on opposing defensive linemen.
2.) Kevin Riley, QB, Cal
Well it was bound to happen eventually. After Jahvid Best scorched the Earth for nine touchdowns in the first three games, someone finally shut him down. Of course, until Saturday, Bears’ fans had hope that their quarterback could pull them through if their Heisman candidate was successfully slowed. Not anymore. Oregon welcomed Cal into Autzen and stuffed Best for only 55 yards on 16 carries, and then kept Riley from finding a groove. There it is — the blueprint on how to beat the Bears. Erase Best, and then watch happily as Kevin Riley completes only 12 of 31 passes for no TDs. That USC game suddenly doesn’t look so enticing.
3.) Washington Morale
There’s a trend in college football, or more specifically the Pac 10. Win a big game that makes the national media crackle with delight and then follow it up with a perfectly executed fall on your face. We saw it with USC after the big win in Columbus. The Trojans showed up flat against Washington and stamped their patent on how to lose to an inferior squad. Washington must have been impressed. After moving into the top 25 for the first time since the Marques Tuiasosopo days, the Huskies fell to a better-than-advertised Stanford team. It’s tough to imagine them bouncing back after such an emotional two weeks.
Heisman Barometer
1.) Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Yeah, he’s banged up. And his passing numbers aren’t there like they could have been with Percy Harvin back, but he’s still the top guy… until Florida loses. With a defense like this, don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. Before his concussion, Tebow was pretty Tebowesque scoring three total touchdowns and racking up over 100 yards on the ground.
Week 4 Stats: 5/10 103 yards 1 TD, 16 carries 123 yards 2 TDs
2.) Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
He’s got the gutsy Heisman moment, even if it did come against Purdue. And his stat line has been pretty on par with recent winners. When the Notre Dame quarterback is putting up these kind of numbers, he’s a threat. Especially when all of the preseason front-runners are dropping like trees in the rain forest.
Week 4 Stats: 15/26 171 yards 1 TD 1 INT
3.) Tate Forcier, QB, Michigan
If Jacory Harris can make the list, then why can’t Forcier? Sure, he’s a bit younger and he hasn’t beaten two teams that had no business being ranked in the first place, but he’s been the engine driving Rich Rodriguez’s surprising second-year success. His ability to lead his team back from defeat twice with an injury to his throwing arm is the most impressive performance by a quarterback all year. He just needs Michigan to keep winning. With him in the game, they’re a threat to do so every week.
Week 4 Stats: 11/21 184 yards 2 TDs 1 INT, 10 carries 15 yards 1 TD
4.) Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
I guess he’s not dead yet. McCoy finally played up to his own lofty standards against a team that should have made him look good. His completion percentage is somehow still above 70% and he’s tossed three TDs in two of his four games. He needs a signature win though considering how unimpressive he’s been in spurts so far.
Week 4 Stats: 28/35 286 3 TDs 1 INT, 4 carries 15 yards
5.) Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Keenum might deserve a higher spot. Not only does he have Houston in a tie for first place in the Big 12 South (he’s beaten more Big 12 teams than any actual member of the conference), but he’s beaten Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in upset, come-from-behind efforts. He shouldn’t get the Colt Brennan snub treatment. As long as he keeps Houston out of the L column, he’s a legitimate threat to receive an invite to New York.
Week 4 Stats: 38/58 435 yards 1 TD 1 INT, 8 carries 27 yards 1 TD
Surprise Freshman (Now known as the Tate Forcier Award)
Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
Finally, someone other than Forcier who at least deserves mention here. Ryan Williams played as big a part in Virginia Tech’s “upset” of Miami as the Hokie defensive line did. When Darren Evans went down this summer, the Hokies’ rushing game was said to have gone with him. No one told Williams. Through four games he’s plowed over and around defenders for 492 yards and eight TDs. He managed 71 yards and two scores against an incredible Alabama defense, and went for 150 against Miami with another set of end zone romps. Only this time he won. Get used to that trend. Despite all of the oozing love for Miami and the burning desire of the pollsters to see them ranked again, Virginia Tech is once again the class of the ACC, and Williams is looking more and more like the valedictorian.
Surprise Team
Oregon Ducks
It shouldn’t have been that surprising, but it was. Oregon shouldn’t have been hated on so profusely for losing to a great Boise team on the road where the blue turf swallows opponents like Ahab on the Pacific, but they were. And no one should have doubted Chip Kelly’s ability to get the offense rolling after losing overrated and under-disciplined LeGarrette Blount, but everyone did. So much for that. Oregon just got done waxing the sixth-ranked Cal Bears 45-3 and holding the last great hope for a running back to win the Heisman to only 55 yards. Jeremiah Masoli finally threw a touchdown pass. In fact, he tossed three — all to tight end Ed Dickson. And LeMichael James is helping everyone outside of Byron Hout forget about Blount with two straight games with over 100 yards on the ground. With USC still muddling through the Matt Barkley experiment, the Pac 10 is still open for the Ducks.
Play of the Week
There were quite a few contenders here. Jimmy Clausen and Tate Forcier clinched important victories with late game heroics. Virginia Tech’s blocked punt in the second quarter really iced Miami, and Case Keenum was unstoppable at the end of Houston’s victory over Texas Tech. But nothing, and I mean nothing, was as impressive as Chad Jones seemingly impossible swatting of Tyson Lee’s third down pass from the LSU one-yard line. With the game, and more importantly the season, hanging in the balance, Jones made quite a case for himself as the most freakishly athletic specimen in the sport. Despite hurdling towards the line to support the play action fake, Jones grew an extra three inches in his left arm and knocked the Bulldogs’ hopes from the Starkville sky. He followed it up by stuffing the fourth down run and sealed the Tigers’ win. Of course, it wouldn’t have been a win without his 93-yard punt return from earlier in the quarter. That might have been the best use of blockers on a play of any kind in the history of college football. Special thanks from LSU to Patrick Peterson for escorting Jones to end zone.
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