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Going Deep: Bye weeks suck, some new permastarters, and who gets pine
By Vince Mullins | September 24, 2008
Pardon the harsh words, but what I would give after a tough week of work to see the artistry of a Max Hall deep ball to Austin Collie, Michael Crabtree catching a post pattern in perfect stride, Jeremy Maclin (right, Icon SMI) weaving through the punt team like a sine wave, or a battle on the Blue Turf. And I get none of it!
Texas Tech, Missouri, BYU, Boise, Southern Miss and Arizona all off - no offense to the Golden Eagles nor Wildcats, I just thought the bit was going too long.
Speaking of going long…
PERMASTARTERS
I am lengthening the list this week, not just based on the number of byes of top programs but because I am in favor of the early season performances and the schedules to come. In order of confidence:
- Mike Crabtree - idle (he needs a break after killing my chance to get to the BCS Championships)
- Jarett Dillard, RIce - the start of the week against North Texas. A huge lead in active career TD receptions, and currently third in career TDs with 46 (record is 50 by Troy Edwards of LaTech).
- Chris Williams, NM State hosting #97 defense New Mexico - Nice to have him back in the mix
- Emmanuel Sanders, SMU at Tulane - tied with Crabtee in second with 6 TDs. Mark Hafner of Houston leads the nation with seven. Did you hear justin Willis is now taking reps at wideout?
- Mike Thomas, Arizona idle
- Jeremy Maclin, Missouri idle
- Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St vs. Troy - yeah, he got nothing against Missouri St in the Hurricane. Troy is fifth in yards per play allowed and stingy versus the pass, but Cowboys have revenge on their minds after the Troy loss last year.
- Dennis Pitta (TE) BYU idle
- Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan hosts Buffalo - time for anderson to blossom in MAC play as he is barely in the Top 100 after 20 catches and 1 TD.
- Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas at Rice - showtime for the Green as they face my #114 defense that allows 6.78 yards per play! A must start against this aggressive blitzing defense
- Austin Collie, BYU Idle - new to the list, the leg injury is a distant memory. UCLA DBs want to forget the view of the back of his jersey.
- Eric Decker, Minnesota @ Ohio St - new as well, #1 scoring WR in a PPR league. The Gopher defense has led them to a 4-0 start, and even if Beanie Wells wants to start this week I would still play Decker.
- James Casey (TE), Rice hosts UNT - even gets goal-line carries!
- Jermaine Gresham (TE), Oklahoma vs, TCU - great defensive battle, but my premise that he was the best receiver on the roster has held so far. Drat that Sam Bradford spreads the ball around like a social worker.
just off the radar…
Darius Passmore, Marshall hosts WVU - I admit I was first drawn to the name by the name…but he is tenth in the nation in yards from scrimmage and has already faced two conference opponents and West Virginia is average at best.
Brandon Banks, Kansas State hosts La-Lafayette - the 150-pound runt of the many JUCO recruits outruns everyone and I was thorughly impressed by him against #66 Louisville. Why they run him in seam routes up the middle escapes my football intellect, but most FBS linebackers couldn’t catch this kid in a phone booth in the flat. LOCK START OF THE WEEK against #98 ULL.
Brandon Tate, UNC at Miami(FL) - such production out of so few touches on offense! 18 touches, 438 yards for 24.3 per play! Also returns kicks - he will get on the list if he can do this against this tough part of his schedule.
Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo at CMU - Roosevelt made the walk-off TD catch against Temple and has had a great first full season at WR.
And don’t remind me who I thought was close to the list on Week One - there was a reason they weren’t on it, right?
INJURIES
Two have quietly gone under the radar, and I must apologize that we have missed them. Might be easier to get military intelligence on China than to get injury news on players not in the Big Six conferences….
San Jose State Kevin Jurovich will likely miss the entire season with mono (upgrade David Richmond when he gets back from Hawaii).
Maurice Jones of Memphis hurt his shoulder last week and Phil Stukenborg of the Memphis Commercial Appeal told me this Monday that he would likely be out this week also. That changed late Tuesday and Coach tommy West said that he won’t practive and may play against Arkansas State. My two cents - possible sprain + #29 Red Wolves defense + Tiger depth equals Pine Time. Likely back for the national TV game next Thursday at UAB. Thanks to Phil for understanding my arse was on the line for recommending Jones highly after the Rice game and getting a timely update in the paper.
PINE TIME
Oregon State WRs vs. Southern Cal - Trojans look like the creme de la creme allowing only 5 ppg and 3.28 yards per play, #1 in the nation in both. #2 in the country in 39.4 yds/pt (median is 15.14). Beaver Lyle Maevao will likely yell “FREEDOM” after being eviscerated in the offensive backfield. Please Trojans - roll through the schedule to play Florida in the BCS game, PLEASE?
Tennessee WRs at Auburn - Gerald Jones looks like a nice athlete, but they cannot compete on the road against Auburn, their second consecutive game against a Top Ten BI defense. Plus he seems to think he is the only faultless player on offense by calling out fan reaction to everyone else but him.
Arrelious Benn, Illinois v. Penn State - I sat Benn with average to bad results a couple weeks back, but Juice WIlliams will get exposed against this excellent Nittany D. Benn may get some carries, but that D is Top Ten in four different categories. Vicious pine again.
DJ Williams (TE) , Arkansas at Texas - rescheduled from the Hurricane postponment two weeks ago. Alabama D shut down QB Casey Dick and Texas may be just as good on defense with wunderkind DC Will Muschamp at the controls. Granted, Texas with the 103rd ranked pass defense seems intriguing, but my defensive studies will remind you that no one can run on the Longhorns so opponents must pass. Too many good TEs with better matchups.
ODE TO TECMO BOWL HIGHEST SCORING GAMES OF THE WEEK
do what you wish with this information (defense rankings in parentheses)…this site is all about maximizing matchups..
North Texas 28 at Rice 52 (120 vs 114)
Fresno 54 at UCLA 5 (70 vs 103)
Virginia 11 at Duke 44 (100 vs. 72)
Texas A&M 42 at Army 0 (82 vs. 95)
—–
I catch a plane to Stillwater, OK for the weekend in six hours, which means four things are certain:
- Cowboy football game
- Shiner Bock by the mouthful
- Daily stops at Hideaway Pizza (damn good pies in the Dust Bowl)
- Sausage and Egg Casserole from Mom-in-law
Life is good…
Finally, my buddy and 12 year fantasy college football nemesis Frank Z shared some wicked rhymes out of the ATL…why no game footage?
Topics: College Football, Going Deep, Preview, Tight End, Vince Mullins, Wide Receiver |
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