CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: medinabuckeye1 on June 03, 2022, 12:04:25 PM
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Link (https://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25-college-football-rankings).
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Clemson
- aTm
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- USC
- Oregon
- Baylor
- NC State
- Oklahoma
- Michigan State
- Cincinnati
- Wake Forest
- Oklahoma State
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
- Miami
- Kentucky
- Arkansas
- Pittsburg
- Houston
- Penn State
After the top-25 they list a "next tier" which is presented alphabetically:
- Air Force
- Appalachian State
- Auburn
- Boise State
- BYU
- Coastal Carolina
- Florida
- Florida State
- Fresno State
- Iowa
- Kansas State
- LSU
- Minnesota
- Mississippi State
- Ole Miss
- Purdue
- USCe
- Texas
- UAB
- UCLA
- UTSA
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Michigan is wayyyyy too high.
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Texas not ranked
Thats fine
We need to prove it on the field
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I think MSU is too high, even if they are ignoring schedule (getting UM and PSU on the road, plus trading Nebraska for Wisconsin as a crossover).
8-4 feels like a solid season
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I can't rank UW in the top 25 until I see what the QB can do. Sounds like Bobby Engram is putting his stamp on the offense, so maybe that will help him.
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I don't care for Ohio State being that high knowing that thier defense is a work in progress. I sure hope the defense is better this year than the last couple, but until we see it on the field, I am skeptical.
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So everyone sucks this year
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So everyone sucks this year
ye sucketh until ye dont sucketh
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What is this 1900? Memo to Athlon's, Pittsburgh won the rights to the 'h' over a century ago.
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So everyone sucks this year
Correct. But if you put other teams in their place, those teams would also be overrated.
Top 25 rankings break math. Somehow, there are only 12 top 25 teams
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(https://i.imgur.com/ZUe3Row.png)
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What is this 1900? Memo to Athlon's, Pittsburgh won the rights to the 'h' over a century ago.
That was my misspelling not theirs. They just put "Pitt".
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Why do you hate Pittsburgh?
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UGA WAY too high
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didn't they see the vegas odds of nebraska winning the west???
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UGA WAY too high
they are the defending champs, by default that'll always put them near the top on these lazy take pre-season lists.
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I'm certain either Kentucky OR Arkansas will not build on last season's success.
As in go the other way.
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That time of year. My 2022 Lindy’s College Football National Preview arrived yesterday. An SEC West cover featuring LSU/Arkansas. This marks 24 years buying a Lindy’s preview, every year, dating back to 1999.
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99 was a very good year
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99 was a very good year
I certainly partied like it.
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That time of year. My 2022 Lindy’s College Football National Preview arrived yesterday. An SEC West cover featuring LSU/Arkansas. This marks 24 years buying a Lindy’s preview, every year, dating back to 1999.
My first was 1994, except Athlon. I tried to order the MSU specific cover, but the magazines are up to $12 a piece, and then double that for shipping. I'll just get whatever PSU/Pitt/WVU cover I see locally
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Clemson at #4 strikes me as far too high a ranking. I have heard their D-line is supposed to be excellent, but they lose both coordinators, after a sub-par year. Dabo and company are going to be tested this year, even though the ACC is a complete joke, in terms of strength. Their strength used to be that nobody left the coaching staff and their football culture - a team in transition.
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Clemson at #4 strikes me as far too high a ranking. I have heard their D-line is supposed to be excellent, but they lose both coordinators, after a sub-par year. Dabo and company are going to be tested this year, even though the ACC is a complete joke, in terms of strength. Their strength used to be that nobody left the coaching staff and their football culture - a team in transition.
I agree. Lots of questions remain unanswered.
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Clemson at #4 strikes me as far too high a ranking. I have heard their D-line is supposed to be excellent, but they lose both coordinators, after a sub-par year. Dabo and company are going to be tested this year, even though the ACC is a complete joke, in terms of strength. Their strength used to be that nobody left the coaching staff and their football culture - a team in transition.
Seeing how Clemson does this year is one of the biggest things I am looking forward to this season. What Dabo accomplished there especially from 2015-2020 is nothing short of astounding so the question is, can they bounce back to that after a bit of a down year in 2021 or not?
Dabo coached part of 2008 as an interim coach going 4-3 including a bowl loss to finish that season. In his full seasons:
- 2009: 9-5/6-2 W division, L CG, W bowl finished #24
- 2010: 6-7/4-4 L bowl, finished nr
- 2011: 10-4/6-2 W division, W CG, L bowl, finished #22
- 2012: 11-2/7-1 W division, L CG, W bowl, finished #11
- 2013: 11-2/7-1 W bowl, finished #8
- 2014: 10-3/6-2 W bowl, finished #15
- 2015: 14-1/8-0 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, L CFP CG, finished #2
- 2016: 14-1/7-1 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, W CFP CG, finished #1
- 2017: 12-2/7-1 W division, W CG, L CFP Semi-final, finished #4
- 2018: 15-0/8-0 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, W CFP CG, finished #1
- 2019: 14-1/8-0 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, L CFP CG, finished #2
- 2020: 10-2/8-1 W CG berth in divisionless CG, W CG, L CFP Semi-final, finished #3
- 2021: 10-3/6-2 W bowl, finished #14
You referred to 2021 as "a sub-par year." It was, but only in the context of what Dabo accomplished from about 2012-2020 and especially 2015-2020. In the six years from 2015-2020 Clemson made the CFP EVERY year and never finished worse than 12-2 and #4. If you compared 2021 to probably any other six years in Clemson's entire history it would be no worse than "pretty good" and in a lot of six year periods a year like 2021 would have been the highlight!
The interesting question is whether or not 2015-2020 is Clemson's "new normal". Was 2021 a down year from that "new normal" or was 2021 a return to closer to Clemson's historical norms?
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Clemson at #4 strikes me as far too high a ranking. I have heard their D-line is supposed to be excellent, but they lose both coordinators, after a sub-par year. Dabo and company are going to be tested this year, even though the ACC is a complete joke, in terms of strength. Their strength used to be that nobody left the coaching staff and their football culture - a team in transition.
I always assume that’s a nod to talent and schedule. It used to be a nod to talent, coaching and schedule.
I’d be interested for someone to study where everyone in the final polls started. Maybe a task for later this week.
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Seeing how Clemson does this year is one of the biggest things I am looking forward to this season. What Dabo accomplished there especially from 2015-2020 is nothing short of astounding so the question is, can they bounce back to that after a bit of a down year in 2021 or not?
Dabo coached part of 2008 as an interim coach going 4-3 including a bowl loss to finish that season. In his full seasons:
- 2009: 9-5/6-2 W division, L CG, W bowl finished #24
- 2010: 6-7/4-4 L bowl, finished nr
- 2011: 10-4/6-2 W division, W CG, L bowl, finished #22
- 2012: 11-2/7-1 W division, L CG, W bowl, finished #11
- 2013: 11-2/7-1 W bowl, finished #8
- 2014: 10-3/6-2 W bowl, finished #15
- 2015: 14-1/8-0 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, L CFP CG, finished #2
- 2016: 14-1/7-1 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, W CFP CG, finished #1
- 2017: 12-2/7-1 W division, W CG, L CFP Semi-final, finished #4
- 2018: 15-0/8-0 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, W CFP CG, finished #1
- 2019: 14-1/8-0 W division, W CG, W CFP Semi-final, L CFP CG, finished #2
- 2020: 10-2/8-1 W CG berth in divisionless CG, W CG, L CFP Semi-final, finished #3
- 2021: 10-3/6-2 W bowl, finished #14
You referred to 2021 as "a sub-par year." It was, but only in the context of what Dabo accomplished from about 2012-2020 and especially 2015-2020. In the six years from 2015-2020 Clemson made the CFP EVERY year and never finished worse than 12-2 and #4. If you compared 2021 to probably any other six years in Clemson's entire history it would be no worse than "pretty good" and in a lot of six year periods a year like 2021 would have been the highlight!
The interesting question is whether or not 2015-2020 is Clemson's "new normal". Was 2021 a down year from that "new normal" or was 2021 a return to closer to Clemson's historical norms?
Agree, prior to Clemson’s recent amazing success, I thought of the program, as one of the two greatest underachievers (considering resources, access to talent and fan interest), the other being Georgia (until quite recently) in CFB. Frankly, I have always been suspicious of Clemson’s sudden success out of nowhere, that isn’t the way it normally happens (there is a slow build to excellence). The hardest thing is to go from being a consistently good program, to an elite level. Clemson is elite in the ACC, but not in the B1G or SEC IMO. They dominate a very weak conference, I can’t think of another ACC team that I consider intimidating. I’m not saying they are terrible, or bad - just not #4 (after losing so much from the coaching staff and having a questionable QB situation). New coordinators mean an adjustment period, no matter the team.
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Clemson at #4 strikes me as far too high a ranking. I have heard their D-line is supposed to be excellent, but they lose both coordinators, after a sub-par year. Dabo and company are going to be tested this year, even though the ACC is a complete joke, in terms of strength. Their strength used to be that nobody left the coaching staff and their football culture - a team in transition.
yeah definitely agree with this. Clemson still has QB issues. They catapulted to elite status when they had DeShaun Watson and then Trevor Lawerence. ELITE players in college and high 1st round draft pick talents. They don't have that anymore....
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99 was a very good year
Year ya got divorced?
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Cade is a RS Jr. who has been in the system going on 4 years now and was the full-time starter last year on a B1G Champ and playoff team. He played a role, but he wasn't the driving force- that team was all run game and front 7. Haskins & Corum and Hutchinson & Ojabo were the guys propelling that team forward. And three of them are gone to the NFL. You're not getting anywhere near a B1G championship or playoff berth without them this year imo. JJ just a true soph but brimming with talent and coming off a true frosh year in which he displayed flashes of high level talent. JJ missed all of this spring ball with a minor shoulder injury- and he'll be back full go for fall camp.
$64,000 question for Michigan is: who do you start at QB? JJ McCarthy or Cade McNamara? Board thoughts?
My gut says you have to roll the dice on McCarthy, give him the reigns and open up the offense. Upside if he pans out is so much higher than McNamara. This team isn't going anywhere with McNamara this year as it's constructed. The run game won't be as physical or dominant in short yardage without Haskins and you aren't replacing a pair of elite bookend pass rushers like Hutchinson and Ojabo overnight- this ain't Bama or UGA. You get your go to #1 WR in Ronnie Bell back and Andrel Anthony and Donovan Edwards both look like future big-time play-makers who flashed big-time as true frosh and look ready to breakout on offense as sophomores. Going to have to out-score people and make big plays. JJ gives you much better chance of doing just that.
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The interesting question is whether or not 2015-2020 is Clemson's "new normal". Was 2021 a down year from that "new normal" or was 2021 a return to closer to Clemson's historical norms?
If it’s a new normal for Clemson, which I think it is, the downfall can be traced back to auto-piloting their offense for so long they forgot how to run it. Throughout last season’s 10-3 campaign it was eye-opening how ineffective Clemson’s offense was, so much so many of us concluded that the problem existed beforehand but was masked the few previous seasons by Trevor Lawrence, who, to use a basketball phrase, can create his own shot every play. QB Uiagalelei's 173 passing yards/game ranked 88th nationally and nobody on staff is properly developing him. He's Logan Thomas, valued for his sizeable, ideal frame, but worse at throwing down field.
After losing to Pittsburgh to drop to 4-3 last season, Clemson won their last six (10-3) largely on the backbone of their defense, and should this likely be the case this year, the good news is that Clemson already knows going into the season rather than spending the first half of last season finding ways to work around an inept offense. And of course it helps to have a nationally top 3 front seven lead by likely NFL first-rounders Bryan Bresee and Trenton Simpson. #4 is too high but their schedule is difficult.
edit: "their schedule is NOT difficult."
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If it’s a new normal for Clemson, which I think it is, the downfall can be traced back to auto-piloting their offense for so long they forgot how to run it. Throughout last season’s 10-3 campaign it was eye-opening how ineffective Clemson’s offense was, so much so many of us concluded that the problem existed beforehand but was masked the few previous seasons by Trevor Lawrence, who, to use a basketball phrase, can create his own shot every play. QB Uiagalelei's 173 passing yards/game ranked 88th nationally and nobody on staff is properly developing him. He's Logan Thomas, valued for his sizeable, ideal frame, but worse at throwing down field.
After losing to Pittsburgh to drop to 4-3 last season, Clemson won their last six (10-3) largely on the backbone of their defense, and should this likely be the case this year, the good news is that Clemson already knows going into the season rather than spending the first half of last season finding ways to work around an inept offense. And of course it helps to have a nationally top 3 front seven lead by likely NFL first-rounders Bryan Bresee and Trenton Simpson. #4 is too high but their schedule is difficult.
Uiagalelei = Joe Milton. Dude looks like a f***king adonis at 6'4-6'5, 245-250- is surprisingly mobile for that size- and has freakish arm strength - but he just sucks at football. They are eerily similar players/QB's.
Accuracy/ball placement and speed reading defenses and making smart decisions with the football in a split second are what counts these days for a QB more than ever. I think guys like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson changed the game. The 6'4/6'5 dude with a cannon arm is overrated these days.
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Cade is a RS Jr. who has been in the system going on 4 years now and was the full-time starter last year on a B1G Champ and playoff team. He played a role, but he wasn't the driving force- that team was all run game and front 7. Haskins & Corum and Hutchinson & Ojabo were the guys propelling that team forward. And three of them are gone to the NFL. You're not getting anywhere near a B1G championship or playoff berth without them this year imo. JJ just a true soph but brimming with talent and coming off a true frosh year in which he displayed flashes of high level talent. JJ missed all of this spring ball with a minor shoulder injury- and he'll be back full go for fall camp.
$64,000 question for Michigan is: who do you start at QB? JJ McCarthy or Cade McNamara? Board thoughts?
My gut says you have to roll the dice on McCarthy, give him the reigns and open up the offense. Upside if he pans out is so much higher than McNamara. This team isn't going anywhere with McNamara this year as it's constructed. The run game won't be as physical or dominant in short yardage without Haskins and you aren't replacing a pair of elite bookend pass rushers like Hutchinson and Ojabo overnight- this ain't Bama or UGA. You get your go to #1 WR in Ronnie Bell back and Andrel Anthony and Donovan Edwards both look like future big-time play-makers who flashed big-time as true frosh and look ready to breakout on offense as sophomores. Going to have to out-score people and make big plays. JJ gives you much better chance of doing just that.
I think you have to go with the future here.
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I think you have to go with the future here.
I tend to agree with this and with @Mdot21 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1595) 's analysis above but coaches in general and Harbaugh specifically tend to be conservative by nature so I have my doubts as to whether or not they'll actually do it.
One factor that may tip the balance in favor of switching to the new kid is that Michigan's OOC is ridiculously weak then their first league game is at home against Maryland. Thus, the Wolverines would have no excuse not to make it to 4-0 even without playing ANY of last year's starters. Thus, they have plenty of time to work on development before their first serious challenge (@ Iowa on October 1).
Conversely, this actually might lead to them NOT switching because the weak opposition could mask any weaknesses.
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I am curious if Maryland might be a little better this year than people suspect though. I know that Michigan has basically dominated them since they joined the Big Ten, but with Taulia back and Demus and Jarrett healthy at WR, they could be dangerous. They are coming off a 54-10 blowout of Virginia Tech in the bowl game, which could spring-board them into a big year.
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I am curious if Maryland might be a little better this year than people suspect though. I know that Michigan has basically dominated them since they joined the Big Ten, but with Taulia back and Demus and Jarrett healthy at WR, they could be dangerous. They are coming off a 54-10 blowout of Virginia Tech in the bowl game, which could spring-board them into a big year.
I keep thinking this and it keeps not happening, we'll see. Maryland's record against the B1G since joining:
- 1.000 vs Illinois 2-0
- .625 vs Rutgers 5-3
- .500 vs Minnesota 3-3
- .500 vs Purdue 1-1
- .375 vs Indiana 3-5
- .250 vs Penn State 2-6
- .250 vs Iowa 1-3
- .143 vs Michigan State 1-6
- .143 vs Michigan 1-6
- .000 vs Ohio State 0-7
- .000 vs Wisconsin 0-3
- .000 vs Nebraska 0-2
- .000 vs Northwestern 0-2
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I thought Maryland was set for an uptick, but Tucker seems to be doing a better job at MSU of what Maryland is trying to do. Franklin is recruiting better than ever, and Schiano is making Rutgers at least a factor. Maryland needs to completely lock down the DMV if they aren't going to recruit nationally, and I'm just not seeing it
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I tend to agree with this and with @Mdot21 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1595) 's analysis above but coaches in general and Harbaugh specifically tend to be conservative by nature so I have my doubts as to whether or not they'll actually do it.
One factor that may tip the balance in favor of switching to the new kid is that Michigan's OOC is ridiculously weak then their first league game is at home against Maryland. Thus, the Wolverines would have no excuse not to make it to 4-0 even without playing ANY of last year's starters. Thus, they have plenty of time to work on development before their first serious challenge (@ Iowa on October 1).
Conversely, this actually might lead to them NOT switching because the weak opposition could mask any weaknesses.
I admit, I try to look at it a little more like a coach, and thus I'll give the cop out answer.
Whoever can run the offense better should start. Simple as that.
Now, Michigan has a few months before it needs to answer that. It'll have player run practices, actual practices, plenty of film room and such. Can run that competition all the way up to the end.
Fact is, that's the position that is the least tools reliant. If the young kid is all that, he'll show he can run the offense, know where the ball needs to go, etc. And if he can make all that go smooth, he should start.
The sport is littered with guys who got handed the job because a coach needed upside or the backup wasn't working. And you learn that often, just because a guy is young, has tools and gets reps, it won't shoot him along the developmental curve. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes, it's not there at all.
Which is all to say, you don't give it to him. You know what the older guy can do. Younger guy just has to go earn it by running that offense better.
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I tend to agree with this and with @Mdot21 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1595) 's analysis above but coaches in general and Harbaugh specifically tend to be conservative by nature so I have my doubts as to whether or not they'll actually do it.
we all know Harbaugh is gonna stick with Cade McNamara
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I thought Maryland was set for an uptick, but Tucker seems to be doing a better job at MSU of what Maryland is trying to do. Franklin is recruiting better than ever, and Schiano is making Rutgers at least a factor. Maryland needs to completely lock down the DMV if they aren't going to recruit nationally, and I'm just not seeing it
Oh I agree that they've not been impressive since joining the Big Ten and usually have their little September fling with success before it comes crashing down later in the year. I don't really have a comment on their long term success, but I think they might finally have the right team this year to make a little more noise and win 8 games or so.
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I thought Maryland was set for an uptick, but Tucker seems to be doing a better job at MSU of what Maryland is trying to do. Franklin is recruiting better than ever, and Schiano is making Rutgers at least a factor. Maryland needs to completely lock down the DMV if they aren't going to recruit nationally, and I'm just not seeing it
yeah, I'm with you. I'm actually surprised at the lack of success they've had...really thought they'd be better. DMV always has tons of talent- but seems like almost none of it is going to Maryland.
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I tend to agree with this and with @Mdot21 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1595) 's analysis above but coaches in general and Harbaugh specifically tend to be conservative by nature so I have my doubts as to whether or not they'll actually do it.
One factor that may tip the balance in favor of switching to the new kid is that Michigan's OOC is ridiculously weak then their first league game is at home against Maryland. Thus, the Wolverines would have no excuse not to make it to 4-0 even without playing ANY of last year's starters. Thus, they have plenty of time to work on development before their first serious challenge (@ Iowa on October 1).
Conversely, this actually might lead to them NOT switching because the weak opposition could mask any weaknesses.
which is exactly what will happen because: Harbaugh. How is this the same guy that benched Alex Smith for Kapernick?
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we all know Harbaugh is gonna stick with Cade McNamara
yup. Harbaugh is conservative to the core.
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I admit, I try to look at it a little more like a coach, and thus I'll give the cop out answer.
Whoever can run the offense better should start. Simple as that.
Now, Michigan has a few months before it needs to answer that. It'll have player run practices, actual practices, plenty of film room and such. Can run that competition all the way up to the end.
Fact is, that's the position that is the least tools reliant. If the young kid is all that, he'll show he can run the offense, know where the ball needs to go, etc. And if he can make all that go smooth, he should start.
The sport is littered with guys who got handed the job because a coach needed upside or the backup wasn't working. And you learn that often, just because a guy is young, has tools and gets reps, it won't shoot him along the developmental curve. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes, it's not there at all.
Which is all to say, you don't give it to him. You know what the older guy can do. Younger guy just has to go earn it by running that offense better.
coaches don't always play the better players. they are human after all....they play favorites and they are often wrong.
Lots of guys can do it in practice but not in the games. Other guys stink at practice but shine in the games. Ask Allen Iverson- who basically never practiced or took it incredibly lightly- but when game time rolled around he was one of the 5 or so best basketball players on planet earth for over a decade.
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Oh I agree that they've not been impressive since joining the Big Ten and usually have their little September fling with success before it comes crashing down later in the year. I don't really have a comment on their long term success, but I think they might finally have the right team this year to make a little more noise and win 8 games or so.
At least Maryland tends to make the conference look good by being better in the September OOC games than they are later during league play. Seriously, here is UMD's recent history in that regard:
- 2021: Started 4-0 including 3-0 OOC with a nice win over WVU and looked like they might make some noise then imploded with a 2-6 finish in conference.
- 2020: n/a no OOC
- 2019: Started out 2-1 OOC. The loss was weak (Temple) but they had a nice blowout win over a (then) ranked Syracuse. They went 1-8 in conference.
- 2018: Started out 2-1 OOC. The loss was weak (Temple again) but they did beat a ranked Texas team. Then went 3-6 in conference.
- 2017: Started out 2-1 OOC. The loss was bad (blowout to UCF) but they did beat a ranked Texas team. Then went 2-7 in conference.
- 2016: Started out 3-0 OOC. Then went 3-6 in conference.
Compare that to Northwestern. The Wildcats tend to make us look bad by sucking early/OOC then getting better.
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which is exactly what will happen because: Harbaugh. How is this the same guy that benched Alex Smith for Kapernick?
Let me preface this by saying that I'm not just saying this to pick on Michigan. Ohio State has had years in the past where their OOC was embarrassingly weak, it happens sometimes. Back in 2007, for example, Ohio State's schedule started out with YSU, Akron, Washington, Northwestern and a lot of us joked that the schedule started with YAWN.
That said, I think that one of the problems with a WEAK early schedule is that it can lead to what you and I are speculating might happen with Michigan this year. I have little doubt that Michigan can beat up Colorado State, Hawaii, UCONN, and Maryland with Cade McNamara under center. For that matter they could probably win those four games with you or I behind center. In fact, although I agree with you that JJ is the better long-term option with much higher upside, I would argue that Michigan would be MORE likely to be upset in one of those first four with JJ playing because those young talented guys tend to be a bit up-and-down. With Cade you know what you are getting. He will do nothing extremely good or extremely bad. He'll just "game-manage" and Michigan will win. Then you'll get to the challenging games like @Iowa on October 1, PSU on October 15, MSU on October 29, and of course tOSU on November 26. Last year Michigan was able to win nearly all of those type games by leaning on a VERY stout defense and a VERY powerful running game. My impression is that they lost a lot of the personnel behind those two things such that I doubt they can do that again.
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Let me preface this by saying that I'm not just saying this to pick on Michigan. Ohio State has had years in the past where their OOC was embarrassingly weak, it happens sometimes. Back in 2007, for example, Ohio State's schedule started out with YSU, Akron, Washington, Northwestern and a lot of us joked that the schedule started with YAWN.
That said, I think that one of the problems with a WEAK early schedule is that it can lead to what you and I are speculating might happen with Michigan this year. I have little doubt that Michigan can beat up Colorado State, Hawaii, UCONN, and Maryland with Cade McNamara under center. For that matter they could probably win those four games with you or I behind center. In fact, although I agree with you that JJ is the better long-term option with much higher upside, I would argue that Michigan would be MORE likely to be upset in one of those first four with JJ playing because those young talented guys tend to be a bit up-and-down. With Cade you know what you are getting. He will do nothing extremely good or extremely bad. He'll just "game-manage" and Michigan will win. Then you'll get to the challenging games like @Iowa on October 1, PSU on October 15, MSU on October 29, and of course tOSU on November 26. Last year Michigan was able to win nearly all of those type games by leaning on a VERY stout defense and a VERY powerful running game. My impression is that they lost a lot of the personnel behind those two things such that I doubt they can do that again.
I agree with you 100% and what you say is the likely scenario imo...Harbaugh will roll with Cade in the easy openers and play it safe because he'll be able to sleep walk through that cupcake opening to 4-0- whereas with JJ the chances of maybe dropping 1 of those games is higher as he's brand new and a first time starter. Problem is then...what if Michigan starts to falter once they get into the meat of the schedule and Cade just can't carry the team (which let's be honest, he can't) and THEN in desperation Harbaugh throws JJ out there to the wolves with zero starting experience. STUPID. Let the kid start the opening 4 games and work through the kinks and get the hang of it- who cares if you drop a game early on- that way when you do get into the meat of the schedule you'll have a more seasoned/prepared JJ.
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Back in 2007, for example, Ohio State's schedule started out with YSU, Akron, Washington, Northwestern and a lot of us joked that the schedule started with YAWN.
BRILLIANT!!! Someone's paying attention
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How injured is JJ Mc?Even if Booger plans on rotating him in he should be injury free 1st
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How injured is JJ Mc?Even if Booger plans on rotating him in he should be injury free 1st
he's fine now
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I'm hoping McNamara runs out there for the opening drive of the season so that mdot's response can rival that of Fukushima or Chernobyl.
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I'm hoping McNamara runs out there for the opening drive of the season so that mdot's response can rival that of Fukushima or Chernobyl.
Nah. I've already accepted it. This is just who Harbaugh is. He's been the same guy at Michigan he was at Stanford and with the 49ers. His philosophy is stone age. He wants to run the ball, play defense, and have a QB that will manage the game and not make the big mistakes. That's fine and dandy against 99% of the schedule most years (save for Ohio State- who is always loaded) but when you face a team like Georgia in a playoff game- well as we all saw- you're not going to out Georgia Georgia at Michigan. Just ain't gonna happen. Michigan had two 1st rd picks off it's defense this past draft. Georgia had FIVE. And the best player in college on the field in the games for Georgia- Nakobe Dean- wasn't one of them.
Even Nick Saban- THE greatest college football coach ever- whose entire MO and rep was built on...we're gonna play smash mouth run the ball down your throat and play elite defense- realized...those days are long gone. The game has evolved and changed- and he's evolved and changed with it. He went out and got Tua, Mac Jones, and now Bryce Young - and he opened up the offense and realized that in todays game....you have to score points...you ain't stopping anybody any more. If the greatest coach ever can change up on the fly and change his program....that tells you something about where the game is today. Harbaugh is too stubborn and hard headed to make any kind of significant change like that. He's going to roll with Cade and try and ball control, game manage, run the ball, and play defense.
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Nah. I've already accepted it. This is just who Harbaugh is. He's been the same guy at Michigan he was at Stanford and with the 49ers. His philosophy is stone age. He wants to run the ball, play defense, and have a QB that will manage the game and not make the big mistakes. That's fine and dandy against 99% of the schedule most years (save for Ohio State- who is always loaded) but when you face a team like Georgia in a playoff game- well as we all saw- you're not going to out Georgia Georgia at Michigan. Just ain't gonna happen. Michigan had two 1st rd picks off it's defense this past draft. Georgia had FIVE. And the best player in college on the field in the games for Georgia- Nakobe Dean- wasn't one of them.
Even Nick Saban- THE greatest college football coach ever- whose entire MO and rep was built on...we're gonna play smash mouth run the ball down your throat and play elite defense- realized...those days are long gone. The game has evolved and changed- and he's evolved and changed with it. He went out and got Tua, Mac Jones, and now Bryce Young - and he opened up the offense and realized that in todays game....you have to score points...you ain't stopping anybody any more. If the greatest coach ever can change up on the fly and change his program....that tells you something about where the game is today. Harbaugh is too stubborn and hard headed to make any kind of significant change like that. He's going to roll with Cade and try and ball control, game manage, run the ball, and play defense.
I agree 100%. As an old-time Ohio State fan I can understand Harbaugh's feelings. Personally, I LOVED teams that could play stifling defense, run the ball reasonably effectively, and just bludgeon their opponents but I agree with you that it is nigh on to impossible to win an NC that way anymore. I think Tressel's post-2002 teams illustrate this pretty well. The Buckeyes had enough talent to dominate our league that way and they won a slew of league titles but when they got matched up against the best of the best, it usually wasn't pretty:
- 2006: 12-0 regular season, 8-0 Big11Ten, L 41-14 in BCSNCG against Florida.
- 2007: 11-1 regular season, 7-1 Big11Ten, L 38-24 in BCSNCG against LSU.
- 2008: 10-2 regular season, 7-1 Big11Ten, L 35-3 at USC and 24-21 against Texas in the Fiesta.
Even as far back as the Ten Year War, our teams mutually dominated the BigTen but had a terrible record in Rose Bowls. Rose Bowls during the Woody/Bo era:
- 1970: Michigan lost 10-3 to USC.
- 1971: Ohio State lost 27-17 to Stanford.
- 1972: Michigan lost 13-12 to Stanford.
- 1973: Ohio State lost 42-17 to USC.
- 1974: Ohio State WON 42-21 over USC.
- 1975: Ohio State lost 18-17 to USC.
- 1976: Ohio State lost 23-10 to UCLA.
- 1977: Michigan lost 14-6 to USC.
- 1978: Michigan lost 27-20 to Washington.
- 1979: Michigan lost 17-10 to USC.
Those teams played stifling defense. Points given up per season / game:
- 1969 Michigan: 148 points in 11 games, 13.45 ppg.
- 1970 Ohio State: 120 points in 10 games, 12 ppg.
- 1971 Michigan: 83 points in 12 games, 6.92 ppg.
- 1972 Ohio State: 171 points in 11 games 15.5 ppg.
- 1973 Ohio State: 64 points in 11 games, 5.82 ppg. (What is even crazier is that they gave up 44 in their last three games: 13 to Iowa, 10 to M, and 21 to USC. Prior to that they had given up only 20 points in eight games).
- 1974 Ohio State: 129 points in 12 games, 10.75 ppg.
- 1975 Ohio State: 102 points in 12 games, 8.5 ppg.
- 1976 Michigan: 95 points in 12 games, 7.92 ppg.
- 1977 Michigan: 124 points in 12 games, 10.33 ppg.
- 1978 Michigan: 105 points in 12 games, 8.75 ppg.
Those teams played stifling defense and we all know they could run the ball but they went 1-9 in Rose Bowls because when they got up against teams with comparable talent they didn't have any creative answers.
Even looking at last year's edition of THE GAME. Michigan's defense was dominant and they ran the ball very well and they did win but Ohio State still put up 23 first downs, 458 yards, and 27 points. If Ohio State's defense had been merely competent the game likely would have gone the other way. Before anyone objects, I'm not crying the "but we coulda won if" game, I'm making a point about the modern game. Even as stout as Michigan's defense was last year, they still allowed 27 points and 458 yards to Ohio State. You just aren't likely to see a lot of 10-3 or 17-10 type games like the 1970 and 1979 Rose Bowls among top-tier teams anymore. You HAVE to be able to score because it has become practically impossible to hold your opponents to single-digits.
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^^^^
Hence Bobby Engram is now the OC in Madison. Got to try something different these days.
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Nah. I've already accepted it. This is just who Harbaugh is. He's been the same guy at Michigan he was at Stanford and with the 49ers. His philosophy is stone age. He wants to run the ball, play defense, and have a QB that will manage the game and not make the big mistakes. That's fine and dandy against 99% of the schedule most years (save for Ohio State- who is always loaded) but when you face a team like Georgia in a playoff game- well as we all saw- you're not going to out Georgia Georgia at Michigan. Just ain't gonna happen. Michigan had two 1st rd picks off it's defense this past draft. Georgia had FIVE. And the best player in college on the field in the games for Georgia- Nakobe Dean- wasn't one of them.
I feel your pain on this because I think it is analogous to where Ohio State is with our BB coach. Harbaugh isn't a bad coach. In his time at Michigan:
- 2015: 10-3/6-2 went into THE GAME with at least a chance at a share of the Division (with a win and an MSU loss).
- 2016: 10-3/7-2 went into THE GAME with control of their own destiny for the CG because they had a win over PSU.
- 2017: 8-5/5-4 off year, it happens.
- 2018: 10-3/8-1 went into THE GAME as the favorite to win and go to the CG.
- 2019: 9-4/6-3 went into THE GAME with a chance to play spoiler but that was it, tOSU had already clinched the CG.
- 2020: 2-4/2-4 hard to hold this against him as it was a goofy pandemic year.
- 2021: 12-2/8-1 went into THE GAME with a chance to win the league and did it, went to CFP.
This is pretty good even by Michigan's standards. A lot depends on what time-frame you are comparing to. This is VASTLY better than the seven years prior to Harbaugh's hiring. In those seven years (2008-2014) the Wolverines were 1-6 against the Buckeyes (about the same) but had THREE sub .500 seasons and three more barely over .500 (7-6 in both 2013 and 2010 and 8-5 in 2012) with only one good season (11-2 in 2011).
This isn't bad. It is good, but like me with my school's BB coach, I think you feel that Michigan could do better and you want more but they aren't going to fire a guy who has them "relevant" and made the CFP last year so basically buckle in and enjoy what you can because it likely isn't changing anytime soon.
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Even looking at last year's edition of THE GAME. Michigan's defense was dominant and they ran the ball very well and they did win but Ohio State still put up 23 first downs, 458 yards, and 27 points. If Ohio State's defense had been merely competent the game likely would have gone the other way. Before anyone objects, I'm not crying the "but we coulda won if" game, I'm making a point about the modern game. Even as stout as Michigan's defense was last year, they still allowed 27 points and 458 yards to Ohio State. You just aren't likely to see a lot of 10-3 or 17-10 type games like the 1970 and 1979 Rose Bowls among top-tier teams anymore. You HAVE to be able to score because it has become practically impossible to hold your opponents to single-digits.
Agree 100%.
Michigan was pressuring Stroud excessively, and he still put up just shy of 400 yards passing. The type of offense OSU runs, the type of talent they have- Ryan Day as just a FILTHY play-caller- dude is a demon calling plays- he's got to be NO fun to game plan against as a DC- you can keep that offense down for stretches- but sooner or later they are going to convert big plays. WAY too talented, WAY too explosive, WAY too good coaching. OSU lost that game at the LOS on D- their defense was putrid and allowed Michigan to basically line up and pound the ball right at them and run all over them all day long. Haskins ran for 5 TD's and Michigan as a team ran for like 300 yards and averaged over 7 YPC. Any time you can run the ball like that as an offense and kill clock and convert those rushing yards into 42 points- you're probably going to win the game. IF OSU defense had given up say half that- 150 yards and around 5 YPC - then they probably win that game.
You have to be able to score points today.
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I feel your pain on this because I think it is analogous to where Ohio State is with our BB coach. Harbaugh isn't a bad coach. In his time at Michigan:
- 2015: 10-3/6-2 went into THE GAME with at least a chance at a share of the Division (with a win and an MSU loss).
- 2016: 10-3/7-2 went into THE GAME with control of their own destiny for the CG because they had a win over PSU.
- 2017: 8-5/5-4 off year, it happens.
- 2018: 10-3/8-1 went into THE GAME as the favorite to win and go to the CG.
- 2019: 9-4/6-3 went into THE GAME with a chance to play spoiler but that was it, tOSU had already clinched the CG.
- 2020: 2-4/2-4 hard to hold this against him as it was a goofy pandemic year.
- 2021: 12-2/8-1 went into THE GAME with a chance to win the league and did it, went to CFP.
This is pretty good even by Michigan's standards. A lot depends on what time-frame you are comparing to. This is VASTLY better than the seven years prior to Harbaugh's hiring. In those seven years (2008-2014) the Wolverines were 1-6 against the Buckeyes (about the same) but had THREE sub .500 seasons and three more barely over .500 (7-6 in both 2013 and 2010 and 8-5 in 2012) with only one good season (11-2 in 2011).
This isn't bad. It is good, but like me with my school's BB coach, I think you feel that Michigan could do better and you want more but they aren't going to fire a guy who has them "relevant" and made the CFP last year so basically buckle in and enjoy what you can because it likely isn't changing anytime soon.
Agree on all fronts.
I don't think they should fire him. I think they should chop his balls off though and tell him...THIS is your OC....THIS is the style of offense you're playing....you're ordered to stay out...and JJ is the starter. If I was the AD I'd dictate those terms to him. What's he really going to do? He's not going to quit. The Vikings looked at him very closely and then said nah....hard pass. He has no other options til next year. IF you find the right OC who can take JJ and catapult this offense out of the stone age and into the modern age- then even if Harbaugh gets pissed off that he got his balls chopped off and then leaves next year for the NFL- just promote the OC.
Michigan needs to find it's Ryan Day. Not saying you're going to even get an offensive minded coach that good....but even if you get Diet Ryan Day - that's a win compared to with the crap you've got for offensive coaching now.
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it just looks different when McCarthy is out there....he's way more elusive, he accelerates way quicker when on the move and is way faster in a straight line, he's got a way bigger arm, he throws a better looking, tighter spiral and the ball gets to where it's going a lot faster which allows him to fit balls into tight windows that Cade just can't. He's just a more naturally gifted thrower and athlete than Cade....by a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVouqoyZEpA
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coaches don't always play the better players. they are human after all....they play favorites and they are often wrong.
Lots of guys can do it in practice but not in the games. Other guys stink at practice but shine in the games. Ask Allen Iverson- who basically never practiced or took it incredibly lightly- but when game time rolled around he was one of the 5 or so best basketball players on planet earth for over a decade.
While these things are both to a degree true, they both sort of obfuscate the point.
Coaches don't always play the better players, but the majority of times, they do. And fans are always pulling for favorites, often based on having less information about them than the non-favorites (and, of course, coaches have thousands of times the information fans do). Sometimes people who build houses are very wrong about things, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to build better houses than the average persons.
The games/practice thing is often silly. Iverson didn't like drills and was somewhat unserious about his craft, but if you played 5-on-5, he'd try to destroy you. You get people who are already that good or are oddball savants, but for the most part, if I say, "You will get to play more if you do football things in a football setting," the players who do the football things best tend to be very good at football. This logically follows.
But in the end, I'll fall back on what I said. Whoever runs the offense better should probably start. Because an offense being run well empowers the actual play-makers. Now there's an interplay that in theory more raw talent can make the offense better overall even if it's being "run" slightly worse, but if the young fella doesn't know what he's doing, you're gonna get a worse offense.
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In the world of Top-25s, I thought I posted something about success rates and such, but I guess my phone ate it. Anyway, thought it would be interesting to look at 2021's final Top-25 and where they started. (Going with AP because that's the only post top-25, though I could see a good argument for going with the pre-bowl numbers owing to how much bowls warp the final rankings). First number is final rankings, what's next is where they started.
1. 5
2. 1
3. Unranked, 32nd in total votes (2-5 in 2020 Hi Michigan)
4. 8
5. Unranked (2-7 in 2020)
6. 5
7. Unranked (1st team out, 8-3 in 2020)
8. 9
9. Unranked (2-5 in 2020)
10. 2
11. Unranked (2nd team out, 5-5 in 2020)
12. 24
13. Unranked (6-5 in 2020)
14. 3
15. Unranked (4-5 in 2020)
16. 23
17. Unranked (13th team out, 3-5 in 2020, AAC)
18. Unranked (10th team out, 4-6 in 2020)
19. Unranked (11-1 in 2020, but lost star QB, mid-major)
20. Unranked (8-4 in 2020)
21. Unranked (3-7 in 2020)
22. 11
23. 18
24. Unranked (1-5 in 2020 MWest)
25. Unranked (4-4 in 2020, West)
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it just looks different when McCarthy is out there....he's way more elusive, he accelerates way quicker when on the move and is way faster in a straight line, he's got a way bigger arm, he throws a better looking, tighter spiral and the ball gets to where it's going a lot faster which allows him to fit balls into tight windows that Cade just can't. He's just a more naturally gifted thrower and athlete than Cade....by a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVouqoyZEpA
Talk about beating a dead horse. FFS
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The entirety of your paragraph AGAIN is literally all physical tools AGAIN and has nothing to do with knowledge of the playbook AGAIN or demeanor in a difficult situation AGAIN.
Has anyone on the planet suggested McCarthy has inferior physical tools? I honest-to-god don't know who your post's audience is supposed to be.
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Talk about beating a dead horse. FFS
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The entirety of your paragraph AGAIN is literally all physical tools AGAIN and has nothing to do with knowledge of the playbook AGAIN or demeanor in a difficult situation AGAIN.
Has anyone on the planet suggested McCarthy has inferior physical tools? I honest-to-god don't know who your post's audience is supposed to be.
(https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/-why-dont-you-go-suck-on-a-big-fat-one-and-choke-on-it-62a2a.png)
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If you want to confirm that I'm right, insult me. If I was wrong, you'd have said so. Thanks for the concession.
But honestly, for everyone's sake, post about ANYTHING else.
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Agree on all fronts.
I don't think they should fire him. I think they should chop his balls off though and tell him...THIS is your OC....THIS is the style of offense you're playing....you're ordered to stay out...and JJ is the starter. If I was the AD I'd dictate those terms to him. What's he really going to do? He's not going to quit. The Vikings looked at him very closely and then said nah....hard pass. He has no other options til next year. IF you find the right OC who can take JJ and catapult this offense out of the stone age and into the modern age- then even if Harbaugh gets pissed off that he got his balls chopped off and then leaves next year for the NFL- just promote the OC.
Michigan needs to find it's Ryan Day. Not saying you're going to even get an offensive minded coach that good....but even if you get Diet Ryan Day - that's a win compared to with the crap you've got for offensive coaching now.
This would be an amusing type of disfunction.
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The McCarthy decision tree is gonna be interesting.
The baseline assumption is already that he's 100 percent ready to rock. So if things go wrong, it'll be someone else's fault. And if he doesn't start, it'll be coaching malpractice. Like, he could go DJ U and it'll all be blamed on someone else. And if the incumbent starts and they're anything but Mac Jones-led Bama, it'll be a case of leaving something out there.
Shoot, it's gosh dang June and he's already got a wolverine hot under the collar at the staff.
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I stopped by a Barnes and Ignoble for a book to read on the flight (bought two) and picked up an Athlon and scanned it some. I learn more around here, really. But it is somewhat entertaining. I read the books on the plane and at the lounge (which at LAX is very nice).
San Diego must be the nicest of the three larger cities in CA from what I could discern.
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I'm hoping McNamara runs out there for the opening drive of the season so that mdot's response can rival that of Fukushima or Chernobyl.
(https://www.cfb51.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fb7dFlsG.gif&hash=cc7f6d5e7a0bab84ec0f60c5a54e0a47)
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I stopped by a Barnes and Ignoble for a book to read on the flight (bought two) and picked up an Athlon and scanned it some. I learn more around here, really. But it is somewhat entertaining. I read the books on the plane and at the lounge (which at LAX is very nice).
San Diego must be the nicest of the three larger cities in CA from what I could discern.
Did ya visit South Central ?
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I drove from LAX to northern SD and saw some of that, and then drove back, so no.
The traffic going down was bad, stop and go for miles and miles, wore me out. I guess it's cheaper to fly to LAX than SD.
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I stopped by a Barnes and Ignoble for a book to read on the flight (bought two) and picked up an Athlon and scanned it some. I learn more around here, really. But it is somewhat entertaining. I read the books on the plane and at the lounge (which at LAX is very nice).
San Diego must be the nicest of the three larger cities in CA from what I could discern.
I'm shocked book stores still exist with Amazon. Shit, I'm kinda shocked retail stores still exist with Amazon just crushing and destroying all retail.
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If you want to confirm that I'm right, insult me. If I was wrong, you'd have said so. Thanks for the concession.
But honestly, for everyone's sake, post about ANYTHING else.
LOL. I'm just kidding! Wasn't an insult. You're 100% right, I need to let it go lol. I'm just kinda over the Harbaugh experiment and was kinda hoping he'd have gone to the NFL and they'd have promoted Gattis.
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I drove from LAX to northern SD and saw some of that, and then drove back, so no.
The traffic going down was bad, stop and go for miles and miles, wore me out. I guess it's cheaper to fly to LAX than SD.
Not really, when you factor in cost of rental cars and the price of gas. And time. Time is important.
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ATL --> LAX $638 in July.
ATL --> SDO $738.
I filled up for about $70 near LAX. Drive time was 2 hours except for going down traffic. The $200 difference is not compensatory for me.
I have quite a few miles built up now. And two companion tickets as well.
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The Athlon thing, to me, is information overload. I'm not sure it aids in assessing teams much at all. I know the other mags have even more detail at times. I was reading about "EPA" and couldn't find what it meant, like "EPA/rush", which would be something like -0.262.
Some stats about UGA's team last season are not widely known, it seems, on offense, like a 0.264 EPA per pass, which ranked 6th nationally, whatever it is.
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Michigan at No. 6? Not sure what to think about that. Michigan's offense will be good. What they'll have for defense is anybody's guess. Could be good, could be bad, best guess might be middle of the road Big Ten. Thankfully Michigan has four weeks to iron things out before they play at Iowa. They might end up in the top ten in January with some luck.
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The Athlon thing, to me, is information overload. I'm not sure it aids in assessing teams much at all. I know the other mags have even more detail at times. I was reading about "EPA" and couldn't find what it meant, like "EPA/rush", which would be something like -0.262.
Some stats about UGA's team last season are not widely known, it seems, on offense, like a 0.264 EPA per pass, which ranked 6th nationally, whatever it is.
Showing my age:
One of the main reasons for getting and keeping a preseason magazine when I was younger was so that you could access schedules for every school.
Back in the pre-internet age of my youth you couldn't just jump online and find a team's schedule and, of course, you never knew for certain when the season began which teams were going to do well.
So at midseason, if say UGA was undefeated and ranked highly I'd check their schedule in my preseason magazine for two reasons:
- To see how good their schedule had been so far: Just reading "#3 Georgia, 6-0" in the newspaper doesn't tell you much without knowing what six teams they had defeated. For example, last year UGA's first six games included three against ranked teams (#3 Clemson, #8 Arkansas, and #18 Auburn) but in 2018 their first six games only included one against a ranked team and that was a barely ranked USCe team that fell out of the rankings after losing to UGA. Pre-internet I used my preseason magazine to check on things like this.
- To see what and when their toughest tests coming up were.
Obviously those are not factors anymore since I can just look it up with a couple clicks.
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It is far far easier to see a team one thinks is ranked too highly than the reverse. Note the comments herein for an example.
I agree the mags had some tangible value back in the day. I still don't know what EPA/rush means.
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Expected Profit Average?
Expected Production Average?
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It is far far easier to see a team one thinks is ranked too highly than the reverse. Note the comments herein for an example.
I agree the mags had some tangible value back in the day. I still don't know what EPA/rush means.
One of the magazines should have 4 blank spots in it's top 10, lol.
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Just reflecting back on the old days pre-internet and pre CFP and pre BCS so UGA was 6-0 and #1 in the 10/17/2021 poll. My team, Ohio State, was 5-1 and #5.
In our modern era the Buckeyes effectively controlled their own destiny to the NC because:
- #1 UGA and #4 Bama couldn't both win out since they would have to play in the SECCG.
- #2 Cincy wouldn't have been likely to stay ahead of tOSU even if they finished undefeated so long as tOSU won out because the Buckeyes had a VASTLY tougher remaining schedule including (then) #6 M, #7 PSU, and #9 MSU.
- #3 OU controlled their own destiny to stay ahead of tOSU but either they or #8 OkSU would necessarily have to lose.
In the old days with no CFP and no BCS I'd have been trying to find losses for:
- #1 UGA
- #2 Cincy (probably not necessary)
- #3 OU
- #4 Bama
- #8 OkSU (undefeated)
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Expected Profit Average?
Expected Production Average?
Expected points added.
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I stayed in Carlsbad, about halfway between SD and LA this past weekend. Drove all over the place because of stuff to do in both cities.
San Diego weather is great. I went downtown to check out a baseball card shop and there were crazy homeless people everywhere, so it's not immune to that problem.
I found that the 5, 405, and 10 were totally fine during off-hours. I think the traffic being bad all the time thing is overblown. But yeah, it's gridlock during rush hour times.
The good thing if the 5 is packed is taking the Pacific Coast Highway, if you don't have that far to go. It's scenic as hell. Slow, lots of red lights, etc, but pretty (except for Long Beach).
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I think I saw more Asian ladies than I previously had in my whole life. My friend brought a bunch of masks because the hotel notice seemed obsessed with them, but we didn't have to wear them. I think most of the notices and signs were out of date or people just didn't care anymore.
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My friend's cousin is the head of photography or something at the Sony Pictures lot, so we got a nice, informal tour around there. Saw all kinds of artifacts from movies and shows, and among all the stage buildings, etc. The last one was the Jeopardy one, which was cool. They put an Alex Trebek plaque on it and named the stage after him.
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I have family in Long Beach. It's actually Belmont Shores (LB address), and it's very nice there. There are good and bad parts of everywhere. To go to Belmont from the South, you would veer left off Highway 1 at 2nd Street (In-N-Out on the corner). Pretty cool area.
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We did not care for SD weather except a few afternoons. The morning haze would drive me crazy, and it was quite coolish. My wife was just saying she'd glad to be back where it's warm (and about to be hot).
She claims to like hot weather. OK, then.
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C'mon down here. The humidity has checked in. Feels like 100 today.
The OOL (there is no "P" in it) beckons.
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I does one know how many points would be expected to be added in an offensive play? Season average?
I guess so. UGA had 0.264 EPA/pass which was 6th best apparently. That sorta seems lowish to me, but I guess if you run say 30 pass plays per game, it isn't. The defense was pretty good outside the first Bama outing.