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Monday, October 24, 2011

What we learned in the Big Ten: Week 8

Five lessons from the week that was in Big Ten football. [+] Enlarge

Andrew Weber/US PresswireWisconsin's bid for a national championship, along with Russell Wilson's Heisman hopes, were all dashed in the Badgers' loss to Michigan State.1. The Big Ten isn't coming to the BCS title party -- again: No Big Ten team has won a national title since Ohio State upset Miami in 2002. The league hasn't participated in the BCS title game since 2007. That drought will continue. Wisconsin was the league's best championship hope as its last undefeated team heading into Week 8, but the Badgers lost to Michigan State 37-31 in a thriller. It was the type of loss -- complete with a Hail Mary ending -- some teams can overcome and still get back to the top, and Wisconsin could still avenge the defeat in a Big Ten title game rematch. But the reality is that the Badgers were only No. 6 in the first BCS standings anyway, and they've got too much competition nationally to make it to New Orleans for the title game. Michigan State fans can think about what might have been if the Spartans hadn't lost to Notre Dame earlier this season. But for 2011 -- again -- the Rose Bowl will be the ceiling for the Big Ten. (Oh, and the league isn't bringing home a Heisman Trophy, either, as Russell Wilson's candidacy sleeps with the fishes).

2. Michigan State-Nebraska is extra important: Michigan State has some serious mojo going after beating Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in three consecutive games. The Spartans' tests aren't over, as they'll have to find a way to win a fourth-straight, high-stakes showdown in Week 9 at Nebraska. This one is arguably even more important than the Wisconsin game because it's a division matchup. If the Spartans can prevail in Lincoln, they will be the overwhelming favorites to win the Legends Division, since their remaining games (Minnesota, at Iowa, Indiana, at Northwestern) look very manageable. On the flip side, the Cornhuskers will gain the inside edge on the division crown if they can derail Michigan State's momentum.

3. Wisconsin isn't guaranteed to get to Indy: Sounds weird to say, because the Badgers were so dominant in the first half of the season that everyone penciled them into the Dec. 3 league championship game. But right now, Wisconsin doesn't even lead the Leaders. Your new first place team in that division is Penn State, which remains undefeated in conference play and is 7-1 overall after Saturday's win at Northwestern. Many people still doubt the Nittany Lions, but they keep on winning. The long-dormant offense is showing signs of life, with the offensive line getting more physical and Silas Redd putting together four consecutive games of at least 125 rushing yards. The Nittany Lions' schedule is tough the next four weeks, and they'll have to find a way to beat Wisconsin in the season finale at Madison. But now it's the Badgers who are playing catch up. Heck, even Ohio State isn't out of the picture yet. If the Buckeyes win out and get another loss from Penn State, they can make it to Indy.

4. Boilers, Illini headed in opposite directions: A Purdue team seemingly headed toward another bowl-less season showed life last week against Penn State and then took a big step Saturday by beating No. 23 Illinois. The Boilers have discovered their quarterback in Caleb TerBush, who leads an innovative offense, and their defense pressured Illinois all day. While the schedule gets much tougher in the coming weeks, Purdue shouldn't be overlooked. Two more wins and the Boilers should go bowling for the first time since 2007. Illinois, meanwhile, is backsliding after its best start since 1951. The Nathan Scheelhaase-led offense has produced just 21 points in the past two weeks, and things don't get much easier next week at Penn State. Could Illinois be headed for a second-half collapse? Stay tuned.

5. Some quarterback clarity emerges: About half the league has been juggling quarterbacks this season, but the position appeared to come into focus in Week 8. Matt McGloin finally got a start for Penn State after outplaying Rob Bolden for several weeks, and McGloin went the distance in the Lions' 34-24 win at Northwestern. It's hard to see how Joe Paterno goes back to Bolden as his starter now. Purdue also stuck with one guy, playing TerBush all the way against Illinois instead of splitting his reps with Robert Marve. TerBush led the Boilermakers to the 21-14 win and was very efficient. Indiana used its third different starting quarterback of the season while turning to true freshman Tre Roberson. While the Hoosiers lost again, Roberson showed promise and an ability to move the team on long drives with his arm and legs. Minnesota also played MarQueis Gray exclusively against Nebraska instead of trying Max Shortell, though the Gophers have far more problems than who's under center. Perhaps the quarterback questions at all three places will stop -- at least until the next bad performance.

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Adam Jones can boost Bengals

Adam Jones has been cleared to practice, and the veteran cornerback can help an already strong Cincinnati defense.

He will bolster the depth of the NFL's fourth-ranked pass defense and should press Kelly Jennings as the nickelback. In five games last season, he had one interception, three pass defenses, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Jones can also provide a boost as a punt returner. The Bengals' Brandon Tate ranks 13th in the league with a 10.6-yard average. Jones had the team's longest punt return last year (a 22-yarder).

Of course, this assumes Jones returns to the same level he played last year. He's been on the physically unable to perform list because of a 2010 neck injury that prevented him from being cleared at the beginning of training camp.

The Bengals have a three-week window to evaluate him at practice without having to make a roster move and can add him at any point. Jones indicated that he expects to play Sunday at Seattle.

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Non-AQ Players of the Week

Here are your non-AQ players of the week, as selected by each conference. The independent players are selected by a national media panel.

C-USA

Offense: Dominique Davis, QB, East Carolina. Davis set an NCAA single-game record with 26 straight completions to open the game in a 38-34 win at Navy. He finished the game 40-of-45 for 372 yards with two touchdowns. His completion percentage of 88.9 was a school record.

Defense: Marques Wheaton, DB, Southern Miss. Wheaton recorded five tackles (four solos), a pass breakup and two fourth-quarter interceptions in Southern Miss’ 27-3 win over SMU. He returned one of his interceptions 41 yards for a score.

Special teams: Ty Long, K, UAB. Long, a true freshman, made the game-winning 40-yarder with 21 seconds remaining in a 26-24 win over UCF.

Independent

Offense: Riley Nelson, QB, BYU. Nelson led six touchdown drives in seven series before leaving the game early in the third quarter in a 56-3 win over Idaho State. Nelson completed 11 of 17 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns, and added 62 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Co-defense: Geoffrey Bacon, LB, Army. Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU. Bacon returned his first career interception 70 yards for a touchdown in a 44-21 loss at Vanderbilt. Making his first career start, Bacon added a pass break-up, and he matched his season tally with a career-high 13 tackles, including a half tackle for loss. Van Noy had two sacks, three quarterback hurries and a blocked punt.

Special teams: George Atkinson III, KR, Notre Dame. Atkinson had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 31-17 loss to USC. He tallied 178 yards on five kickoff returns.

MAC

East Division

Offense: Chazz Anderson, QB, Buffalo. Accounted for 460 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in a 31-30 loss to Northern Illinois. Anderson completed a school record 35 passes on 53 attempts for 406 yards and three touchdowns, including one with just 14 seconds left in regulation that pulled Buffalo to within one before a missed extra point made the difference.

Defense: Chris Jones, DT, Bowling Green. Jones had six tackles, three sacks and one quarterback hurry in a 13-10 win over Temple.

Special teams: Matt Weller, K, Ohio. Went 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts, connecting from 24, 27 and 23 yards in a 37-20 win at Akron.

West Division

Offense: Javonti Greene, RB, Eastern Michigan. Greene caught a 50-yard pass from Alex Gillett in the first quarter and scored on a 50-yard run midway through the fourth quarter for the two Eastern Michigan touchdowns in a 14-10 victory over Western Michigan.

Defense: Desmond Marrow, DB, Toledo. Marrow led Toledo with six tackles and tied his career high with two interceptions in a 49-28 win over Miami.

Special Teams:Jamill Smith, KR, Ball State. Returned the opening kickoff for a career-high 48 yards in the Cardinals' 17-point second half comeback victory, a 31-27 win over Central Michigan. Smith led all returners for both teams with four kickoff returns for a total of 135 yards.

Mountain West

Offense: Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State. Moore completed 23-of-29 passes for 281 yards in a 37-26 win over Air Force. Moore tied former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy for the most career wins (45) in NCAA history.

Defense:Byron Hout, LB, Boise State. Hout had a career-high 18 tackles against Air Force, including eight unassisted stops and a half tackle for loss.

Special teams:Antonio Graves, WR, TCU. Graves scored his first collegiate touchdown when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone in a 69-0 win over New Mexico. He also forced a fumble on a kickoff return.

Sun Belt

Offense:Bobby Rainey, RB, Western Kentucky. Rainey rushed for 206 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as the Hilltoppers won their first home game since 2008 with a 42-23 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.

Defense:Eric Russell, DB, Middle Tennessee. Russell had six tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in a win over FAU.

Special Teams:Luther Ambrose, KR, ULM. Ambrose became ULM's all-time leader in kickoff return yards and he did it in style, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards at North Texas. He finished with 148 yards on three returns.

WAC

Offense: Mike Ball, RB, Nevada. Ball rushed for a career-high 198 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and added two catches for 18 yards and another score in a 45-38 win over Fresno State.

Defense: Adrien Cole, LB, Louisiana Tech. Cole had 14 tackles (9 solo), including two for a loss, and broke up a pass in a 24-17 win at Utah State.

Special teams: Ryan Allen, P, Louisiana Tech. Allen averaged 52.2 yards on eight punts in the win at Utah State. Seven of them were downed inside the 20-yard line.

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Jeff Saturday not blaming Jim Caldwell

They are 0-7 and they just suffered a 62-7 loss. Inevitably, the search for someone specific to blame is on. The appropriate answer is, of course, everybody. Arians

Saturday It’s floated around that Jeff Saturday said the team was outcoached in New Orleans and that a veteran of his standing saying that was the first major sign of a fracturing locker room.

On a day when Jeremiah Jones of Fox 59 in Indianapolis said not a lot of guys appeared in the locker room, Saturday was there.

“I didn’t say that,” Saturday said before clarifying his feelings. “I said that as a team we were outplayed, we were outcoached and there was nothing that we did better than they did yesterday. I’ve been in this game way too long to try to lay the blame on anybody else. No coach put pads on, we did. We didn’t play well at all, and there’s no scapegoat in this. If you can’t look at all 53 guys and know that we all screwed it up, and we all got beat as bad as you can get beat. There are not enough fingers to go around, so we all share the same burden here and the same blame. We’ve got to get it fixed and go play better next week.”

Caldwell It sure seems Saturday’s comments merely echoed Jim Caldwell’s post-game message.

“I just didn’t think I did as good a job for them as I should have done,” Caldwell said. “Obviously, that was with the way in which we played, that’s my responsibility. I think that’s probably what he’s referring to more so than anything else, my statement in that regard.”

Saturday also took on the issue of effort, which is always something fans and analysts run with after a one-sided game.

“I don’t know, it’s always hard for me to judge people’s effort,” Saturday said in comments distributed by the team. “I’ve heard of that a long time in my career about effort, but the bottom-line is that we’re in a wins and losses game. If you don’t win, then it really makes no difference. We didn’t play well. No matter if we played with effort or didn’t play with effort, we got beat up and got beat. I’ve never met anybody on our team who hasn’t given his 100 percent, and tried as hard as he possibly could. I know I do. Down 62-7, you’re still trying to do the very best you can, because it’s on tape. Somebody’s evaluating you, and some fan who has followed you your whole career is watching to see if you’re the same guy. I think that’s the same for every player in this locker room. We give it the best we can, but that’s not good enough to win games.”

Things are bad in Indianapolis, absolutely. I don’t know what happens next in the unraveling. But I believe going 0-16 is nearly as difficult as going 16-0 and that no one is doing any losing on purpose.

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The Coaches Show: Week 7 analysis

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Tuesday, October 25 2011 BLOGS /NewsOfficial Blog of the National Football League

Home Home « Fantasy Faux Pas Monday: RB Roulette Playbook: Jets’ disguise in coverage might have fooled Rivers »News The Coaches Show: Week 7 analysis

By Brian Billick |
Published: October 24th, 2011 | Tags: The Coaches Show

Brian Billick and Jim Mora discuss the hottest topics from around the league, including young quarterbacks making an impact, the Lions’ backslide, and an examination of the pros and cons of the “Wide 9? defense.

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