Today, my buddy Bret Bloomquist interviewed TU Coach Todd Graham in today's Times, and Graham thinks his quarterback Dave Johnson is the best quarterback in the state of Oklahoma. Of course, he doesn't take into consideration that the other 2 quarterbacks in the state are playing Big 12 competition, with tougher schedules. But there's nothing wrong with him sticking up for his guy...
By the way, It doesn't get easier for Tulsa opponents in the future. Yes, Johnson is a senior, but Texas transfer G. J. Kinne is next in line for the keys to Graham's offense.
But back to the point. UTEP has played tougher opponents this year. It's THAT simple. Buffalo, Texas, NMSU, UCF, S. Miss, Tulane...
Tulsa played UAB, UNT, Central Arkansas, Rice, and SMU.
Though they dominated everyone but SMU, they should have. Why are they not in the AP Top 25??? Scheduling. Plain and simple. We'll see it when the 1st BCS rankings come out on Sunday. Don't put that on Graham. That's still a Steve Kragthorpe schedule.
Give Tulsa this though. They've done what they're supposed to, and too many teams don't.
So, how do you defend the top QB in the Nation (statistically), who's most familiar with the 3-3-5 defense than any other defense (Since that's what Tulsa runs, and what they tortured against UNM)????
It's such a hybrid defense to begin with. You might be most successful taking a page from Joe Lee Dunn, the father of this defense. Make your base the 3-5-3. Sneak the safeties up, and limit the "yac" (yards after the catch). At the same time, you support the run. I'm betting that the Miners worked overtime on jamming the receivers on the line of scrimmage. If Tulsa's going to beat UTEP, Osai Lewis is going to make them do it deep, and play the percentages. It all depends on UTEP stopping the run, though.
On a seperate note. You think UTEP has cheap season tickets at $99 apiece??? I know Tulsa has 1 less home game, but...
BLOG STEW:
Looks like Tony Romo will be playing with a broken pinky. Good for him. Would have been better PR for him if he'd have decided that from the start, instead of allowing the Cowboys to say tht he'd be out for 4 weeks. Now he looks like a guy who was going to be out, until his hero, Brett Favre called him, telling him to suck it up. Speaking of Romo sucking it up...
Sorry... Um, anyways, ESPN talked to a Doctor who has nothing to do with Romo, doesn't know him, and is about 2000 miles away from Dallas. He says that Romo should play...
Finally, what Cowboys fans Super Bowl hopes and dreams hinge on, thanks to Louis DeLuca of the Dallas Morning News...
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