After UTEP's last minute loss to Houston Saturday night, there have been plenty of people upset with the play calling of UTEP's last 2 offensive drives. While I understand their grievances, I don't think that the play-calling should be the issue.
It's like complaining about the ant-pile in your back yard while your house is on fire.
The problem with UTEP was the 4th quarter performance of the defense. At 1 point in the 2nd half, UTEP led 28-9. In Houston. Usually, only BCS teams could pull off a feat like that. Just ask Tulsa.
The UTEP defense allowed just over 300 offensive yards in the 4th quarter. Once the defense allowed that momentum to the Houston offense, it didn't matter what the UTEP offense called. Houston's offense got the raucious crowd (on only 18,134, by the way) back into the game, and that allowed the defense to get fired up.
It's never a good thing when your top 3 tacklers are defensive backs. That means that offensive penetration is getting to your secondary. Linebackers should always be your leaders in tackles.
1 quick note for you. Not sure you saw the actual game on channelsurfing.net, but if you did, you saw Houston DE Phillip Hunt (future 1st day draft pick) decleat Trevor Vittatoe after the whistle had blown after a false start. That's not the 1st time he's done that.
Looks to me like Hunt could use a Beltone...
LOVE the BCS mess
Of course, the big national game of the week was the Tech/OU game. It's no secret that I'm an OU Homer, seeing as I went to school there, and worked for the football team for a year.
Now that I've stated my affiliation, I'd also like to state that OU's dismantling of Tech SHOULD put them above Texas in the BCS rankings, as well as Florida.
I know that's no shock to read that coming from me, but extend me a little latitude for a second. 1st off, the BCS doesn't take into account home field advantage. Scores only. Tech beat Texas by 6. Texas beat OU by 10. OU beats Tech by 44, and it wasn't even THAT close. Most important is that OU's win over Tech happened last, and on national TV. Tech's only hope is that OU goes to Stillwater next weekend, and loses. It's the Bedlam Series, and OU losing to OSU is a VERY real possibility...
For you Florida Honks, thinking that they should be ranked above OU, think again. OU lost to then 5th Ranked Texas, while Florida lost to then UNRANKED Ole Miss. I'll grant you that Florida scored 70 this week, but it was against the Citadel. Yes, the flipping Citadel. OU scored 5 less points against the #2 Ranked team in the country. Argument over.
Heisman Hype
The Tech-OU game did several things in shaking up the Heisman race. 1st, it knocked Tech's Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree out of the race. It also propelled Sam Bradford back into the race. But if the vote was held today, Colt McCoy would/should be your winner. I know he was idle this weekend, but he does so much more than the other QB's.
McCoy has improved as a passer the past 2 years more than any player in College football. Additionally, he's proving to be just as dangerous (or almost) with his feet as his predecessor, Vince Young. Bradford doesn't scramble. Harrell doesn't scramble. Florida's Tim Tebow does, but is nowhere near the passer that McCoy and the others are. The only way that McCoy loses his grasp on this one is if he implodes next week, and Bradford throws for over 400 yards in his final 2-3 games.
Blog Stew
I'll be subbing in for the Monster Saturday on Crunchtime on KROD, Saturday, 10am-1. Stop by, call in, put me on your Christmas card list. We'll talk recipies, or somesuch.
I think I dated this girl back in the day (not so much):
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