Three and Out: Eagles, Marbury, BCS

For a few weeks I've been trying to come up with a creative name for a column that would briefly cover a variety of topics. I messed around with a few different names but decided that "Three and Out" fits for both the obvious reason and because I don't always have a lot of time to devote to research.

If I need more background information about something, or I write something that includes quotes, or a ton of stats, it takes longer to research that it does to write. The writing process is fun. That's the easy part. The challenge I often face is finding the right amount of useful facts or stats to support my story without it sounding too watered down.

I did a google search a few minutes ago and found that Mike Mulligan, a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, writes an article for his employer titled "Three and out." Since this is a common phrase used in the sports world, I assume I can borrow this name without his permission. Hey, I picked the name before I knew it was in use.

I'm working on two projects right now. The first is a story that discusses the new-look NBA and another that allows me to be Phils GM for a day. While I would love to finish now and get them out to you today, I have family in town and I plan on spending my weekend with them. So for now, please accept my "Three and Out" until the holiday is over.

Three and Out

1. After I'm finished writing I'm going to hop in my car, drive north about 25 minutes and spend the day with my family. Although I've tried to stay away from sports talk radio lately, I'm really looking forward to listening today. I can't wait to laugh at all the people that want to get back on the bandwagon.

A few days ago I was telling my sister, as she sat patient and carelessly listened on, that I was so excited for the Eagles to play the Cards and that I couldn't wait to see Kurt Warner get beat up by the Eagles D. While they didn't sack Warner all day, which was shocking to me, they did pressure him throughout this 48-20 blowout. Warner finished with three interceptions.

Meanwhile, can you guess who didn't turn the ball over on Turkey Day? My man, Donovan. The greatest quarterback in Eagles history had to have shut at least a few people up last night while completing 69% of his passes for 260 yards and 4 TDs.

I'm the eternal optimist when it comes to my teams, but even I couldn't predict an ass-whoopin' like this. I figured Donovan and the struggling offense would respond to the critics and find a way to outscore the Cards, but 48-20 was more than I could have hoped for. An overlooked aspect of last night's game was the job that the coaching staff did to get this team ready for a hot Arizona club. For the night, the Eagles run/pass ratio was 40:39, they converted 10 of 15 third downs, and controlled the ball nearly twice as long as Arizona.

I've said it before: Things are never as good or bad as people make them out to be. Andy said that Donovan taking a step back could help him go a mile forward. Maybe the Eagle's winningest coach of all time knows what he's talking about. Last night I heard someone say that Donovan played well only because of the "fire under his ass." Tisk, tisk, tisk. Like last week, this shouldn't be all about Donovan. Your every day, headline-reading fan does not know about the run/pass ratio, the third down conversions, or the playcalling.

The bottom line is that the Eagles played well against a playoff-bound team and they need to continue that if they want to turn the ship around. Next week's game is against the Giants in North Jersey and a win in that game would likely end the negative talk surrounding Philadelphia these days.

2. In September I wrote about Stephon Marbury and how his talent would make the Knicks a better team if he and coach D'Antoni could set their differences aside. I read a quote today from Starbury that mentioned something about how he wouldn't even let his coach walk his dog across the street. Considering that statement, I imagine the relationship isn't going well.

The latest out of NYC is that Steph is being suspended for allegedly refusing to play in the Knicks last game. He says one thing, the coach says another, and the vicious cycle continues. I never said that I like Marbury as a person. Seeing him on television is hilarious with his shiny, tattooed dome and his Barkley-esque turtlenecks. I may have sounded like I was defending the guy before, but I was just noting that he can still play at a higher level than most thirty-plus guards in the league.


I hope they trade him. Or cut him. Or do something. I'm so sick of seeing him on the bench, wasting his talent, happily getting paid for nothing. Speaking of Sir Charles, he publicly criticized LeBron recently for fielding questions about his 2010 free agency. He said its disrespectful, and he's right. But what's as disrespectful and as sickening to see is a guy (Steph) who doesn't care about the game that has helped him earn such a comfortable living. I know the guy plays the point, but he doesn't have to be so selfish.

3. You may say I talk about it too often, but this college football season is turning into the perfect BCS mess. Again. And I'm kind of happy about it. I guess it has to get worse before it gets better. So bring on the drama 'cause I want a playoff right now.

The Big 12 South is a disaster, Ball State finished unbeaten on Tuesday, Boise can do the same tonight and Alabama plays arch rival Auburn this week followed by UF, America's hottest team, in next week's SEC Title Game. I'm predicting that no BCS squad stays unbeaten, multiple mid-majors do and we finish with a million one-loss teams. Plaaay-off, Plaaay-off...

When will the money-hungry hot shots see the light and do what's right? Sorry for the rhyme. It was unintentional. But seriously, when will we get what we deserve? I'm excited about this weekend to be over so I can do my hypothetical BCS playoff bracket. I'll give you the requirements for entrance, rank my Top 16 and match America's best teams in the most fair postseason format imaginable.

Until then, I'm out.

My Report Card

Call it premature if you will, but I'd like to review my predraft quarterback rankings from 2008's NFL rookie class. It may not be fair to make a call on these guys just yet, but I'm very impatient and can't wait three or four years. The lists below display my top guys, the first few drafted at the position and their actual rank based on performance through the 2008 season.

Last year my man crush on Brian Brohm rivaled the one I had on Brady Quinn two years ago. As you'll see, or may remember, I was high on Brohm coming out of the U of L. Actually, I've been a big supporter since he left Trinity HS in Louisville. He was the best quarterback when he left there and I felt that nothing had changed when he was ready to go pro. Today Brohm is third string in Green Bay and starter Aaron Rodgers just received a long-term extension. Whoops.

My Rankings:
1. Brian Brohm, Green Bay (Louisville)
2. Chad Henne, Miami (Michigan)
3. Matt Ryan, Atlanta (Boston College)

Order Drafted:
1. Matt Ryan
2. Joe Flacco, Baltimore (Delaware)
3. Brian Brohm

Actual Rankings:
1. Matt Ryan
2. Joe Flacco
3. Chad Henne

The '08 draft wasn't very deep at the quarterback position. I'd actually call it top-heavy. Besides the four guys listed above, not many others are considered to have much pro potential and Ryan and Flacco are the only two that have played significant roles for their teams this season.

Matt Ryan, who played his high school ball in Philadelpiha area, has led the Atlanta Falcons this season opposed to just managing them. His 11:6 TD/INT ratio is outstanding for a rookie quaterback and his 88.3 QB rating ranks ahead of Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger. Not bad. I wasn't overly impressed by him at Boston College wen he was beating up on second-rate ACC competition and I definitely wasn't expecting him to be this good. His performance this season is just what the city of Atlanta needed following the Mike Vick scandal and I'm sure that Falcons fans are as pleasantly surprised as I am.
My prediction was... inaccurate

The Ravens traded up in the first round (although I felt it was unnecassary) to select another Philadelphia-area quarterback, Joe Flacco. He hasn't been as outstanding as Matt Ryan through his first year but he hasn't lost games either. He makes a big play here and there and for a rookie quarterback he's been good. Stepping into a starting role directly out of college isn't easy, especially if you are the signal-caller. I actually thought the guy would be a bust. I'm still not 100% sold on Flacco and if Troy Smith (you remember: Ohio State, Heisman Trophy) hadn't gotten sick and dropped 20 pounds in the preseason, Flacco wouldn't even be starting. Give it a little time before we crown him King of South Jersey. Let's see what happens next season if Flacco struggles down the stretch.
My prediction was... inaccurate (again)

When the Jets traded for Brett, Chad Pennington was immediately on the trading block. Since the Dolphins acquired him, the talk of Chad Henne getting any snaps has died down. He did get some reps earlier this season and was good in limited action. But overall, dude hasn't played much. I'm a Big Ten guy and Henne (a PA kid who we all thought would go to Penn State) started four years at Michigan, the winningest school in college football history. He had an up-and-down career in Ann Arbor because of injuries and a couple average seasons but was very good for the most part. Henne's size and arm are undeniablly the greatest of the '08 class and starting four years in a pro offense helps his cause. All he needs is the opportunity. And with the long list of injuries on Pennington's resume, that opportunity may come sooner than you think.
My prediction was... it's too early to tell

So far my forecast has been a bit off. Brohm and Henne haven't gotten much of a chance yet, so my bold rankings could look better someday. But for now Ryan and Flacco are the cream of the crop. My updated prediction? Ryan turns out to be the franchise quarterback that he appears to be and Flacco blows it at some point and losses a game he should have won, resulting in his benching. Then Chad Pennington has career-ending surgery of some type (not much to ask) and Henne takes over for good. And finally, Brohm gets a chance to show what he's got with Rodgers injured and some desparate team takes a chance on him Matt Schaub-stlye.

The Blame Game

Ah, the power of winning. Less than a month ago the wishy-washy fans of the Philadelphia area were praising Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid and the Eagles. Today they're openly ripping into player, coach and organization as if someone hit their kid. It's comical. These are the same fans that claim to be the most loyal, proud diehards there are. So much for that reputation. I've heard Philly fans boast about being the most knowledgeable fans in the country. I liken that nonsense to a substance abuser claiming that they don't have a problem. If they must proclaim it so often, who are they trying to prove? Besides, that statement seems pretty ridiculous. How can someone honestly prove such a thing?

Needless to say, I've been embarrassed lately. And it's not because the Eagles have struggled over the last month, or that the Sixers aren't living up to expectations yet, or because the Flyers are starting slow. It's because, generally speaking, Philadelphia fans are crybabies and I'm embarrassed to be associated with a city of sore losers. I consider myself a true sports fan, a student of the game. I support my teams with unwavering loyalty and when I do criticize, it's a fair criticism dealing with the problems. I apologize if that sounded snotty or if you feel that I'm throwing my fellow "supporters" under the bus, but you must understand a situation before you can speak on it.

For instance, my best friend suggested I write a piece about boxing and how the struggling American economy is hurting an old-time sport that's been down for years. Despite the fact that I found it both intriguing and newsworthy, I declined because I know nothing about it and I'd hate to sound misinformed about such an important topic. Meanwhile, I hear many Philly fans who know little or nothing about football, or the NFL for that matter, criticize the Eagles and their current issues.

I've almost reached the point where I can't talk about it. Every time I try, it ends with me getting impatient with one of these clueless homers and snapping at them to the point that they go silent and walk away. If I've done such a thing to you, consider this an apology. I just hope you've learned your lesson. At any rate, I've decided to write about this controversy now because it has reached its climax. The Eagles were throttled by the Ravens yesterday and their starting quarterback was benched at halftime. In the Reid/McNabb era there has never been a more trying time than now.

Today Andy Reid announced that Donovan was starting Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, versus the red-hot Arizona Cardinals. The funny part about this is that they announced it as "breaking news" on ESPN and talk radio in Philadelphia acted as if this was some kind of surprise. Excuse me? In baseball, if a pitcher gets rocked in the the first inning and can't make it out of that frame, he is pulled. In his next scheduled start he returns to the mound. So why the puzzled look when Donovan, the greatest quarterback in Eagles history, is told he will start ahead of career backup A.J. Feeley and the young and restless Kevin Kolb on Thanksgiving? Do you really believe that one of them is better than Donovan McNabb?

What I really love is when I hear a woman rip into the Eagles. Call me a sexist, but please leave football to us ladies. It's like I said before: If you are misinformed, stay away from it. I work at a restaurant in the far northeast of Philadelphia. As I stood near the front door at the beginning of my shift yesterday, two ladies (that had to have been in their seventies at the least) approached me with their heads directed towards the televisions in the bar area. As they walked closer to me, and the door that I was holding for them, I overheard them mumbling about the Eagles. "They're getting killed. That Reid has to go," one of them said. The other responded with, "Yup, and he can take that nigger with him." Wow. I would estimate that these two ladies have no idea what they were talking about.

If you know me at all, I'm sure you know how I feel about that brief dialogue. While I hate to turn this into a racial thing, and you know I could go on for days about that, the racial injustice in this nation plays a huge role in the sports world. When the Eagles win, fans love Donovan. When the Eagles lose, he's a nigger? That thought is wrong is more ways than one. Throughout his career, if Donovan McNabb has done nothing, he's proven that he's the furthest thing from that. I apologize for using that language in my writing. I try to keep it clean, but that actually happened. Look closely the next time you hear someone rip McNabb and check to see if you're looking at a racist.

If you haven't heard, I'm a big Reid/McNabb supporter. But even I know that they've struggled from time to time. From late-game miscues to the questionable playcalling of whomever is making the calls these days (because they'll never tell us), Andy Reid's coaching has been under fire. And while I agree with Coach Reid that great lines win football games, there have been many disputable early-round selections over the last ten years. Being stubborn is okay sometimes. Reid's stubbornness has won us many games over the last decade. But being too stubborn can come off as stupidity. Donovan has had his ups and downs too. Historically, he throws the fewest interceptions in history. But on occasion, he'll throw one that leaves you scratching your head. People mock the way he handles any situation by smiling as if he doesn't care. They say he's too muscular and claim that it directly affects the outcome of games. Of course, D-Mac's biggest knock has been his health. Personally, I don't think injuries are something you can prevent, but the "loyal" fans of Philly must need something to complain about.

Haven't there been more problems in this mediocre season so far? You never hear anyone talk about All-Pro right guard Shawn Andrews being absent from the lineup, or the fact that our potentially Hall of Fame tackles are nearly forty. Or that Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, and L.J. Smith, our starting receivers and tight end from last season have all been injured this season. That's left the team with inexperienced youngsters like rookie DeSean Jackson, second year tight end Brent Celek and a number of slot receivers. We can talk about all the "potential" on the defensive line that hasn't matured yet, or that Brian Dawkins is awful. The last thing people want to do is point a finger at the aging team leader, B-Dawk, but he is a serious liability. Let's talk about Tom Heckert and Andy Reid always leaving the Eagles with a surplus every offseason. Their theory of being thrifty, only spending money on certain positions and always having money left over for a rainy day has left them is good position for ten years. But in case you didn't hear, today is a rainy day. If there was ever a time to give it your all and spend your savings, now's it.

Another thing to consider is that the NFC East is as good as any division in the NFL's history. As of last week the Eagles would have been in first place if they were in the NFC North. I think people forget just how good this division is. The Cowboys are the best in the entire league on paper, the Giants are the best in actuality and the Redskins are a potential playoff team that plays everyone in the East tough. The problem that goes along with that is the fact that not only are the Eagles division foes a little better than they are, they are all younger. Now is the time to get desparate and try to squeeze through that closing window.

My wish this holiday season is that Philadelphia sports fans can be more fair to their teams, read into what the headlines and televisions are saying, and be happy that the Phillies just won a championship. Think positive this winter as the football, basketball and hockey seasons progress. Although you wouldn't know it by talking to the crybabies, this city has some really good sports teams right now. Please end the finger pointing and appreciate what we have.

I Have A Dream

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke before 250,000 people in Washington about equality. But King dreamt of more than just equality. His vision went beyond that. He believed that the public perception of disadvantaged persons played a huge role in the culture of America and that, unless there was a change in that perception, the rights they did have would not suffice.

Flash forward to 2008: America has just elected its first bi-racial President. While racial discrimination may not be extinct, and probably never will be, it's clear that Dr. King's vision made a difference. I don't mean to compare the civil rights movement to the sports world, but if one individual can help an entire nation overcome a hurdle as large as that, one can certainly change something as trivial as college football's postseason format.

One of the biggest stories in sports over the last couple of weeks has centered around Barack Obama and his statements concerning college football. President-elect Obama believes that the FBS, college football's top division, is cheating its fans. He feels that the current BCS system and bowl selection process is flawed. Join the club, pal. On "60 Minutes" with Steve Kroft, Obama expressed, "I think any sensible person would say that if you got a bunch of teams who played throughout the season and many of them have one or two losses - there's no clear, decisive winner - that we should be creating a playoff system." He went on to say that he'd like to "throw his weight around" and try to make that happen.

Now that, is change we can believe in! President-elect Obama would like to see an 8-team playoff. While I think that a 16-team version would make more sense, I'd take what I can get. Anything is better than this BCS nonsense. College football may be evolving into a minor league of sorts, but some purity remains. Why taint this sport we love by only considering the financial gains? You can say what you want about our future president and his priorities being out of order, but maybe this is a sign of his earnest desire to do what's right.

I apologize for turning this into a semi-political conversation, but I'd like to return to Mr. Obama's previous statement. He said something about, "a bunch of teams...have one or two losses...there's no clear, decisive winner." While considering that, let's take a look at the current BCS Standings...

Today, there are only two (although that number could change this weekend) undefeated teams (Alabama and Texas Tech) remaining of the six major BCS conferences. Obviously, they have earned the right to be #1 and #2. From there, things get fishy. The country's third ranked team (Texas) has as many losses (one) as the teams ranked fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth (Florida, Oklahoma, Southern Cal and Penn State). However, the nation's seventh ranked team (Utah) remains unblemished, as they're considered by most to be inferior to the one-loss teams ahead of them. But why are they considered to be inferior? And besides the three undefeated teams I already mentioned, there are in fact two more unbeatens. Boise State is currently ranked ninth (behind the four one-loss schools I named above) and Ball State, a perennial laughing-stock in the lowly Mid-American Conference, is only ranked seventeenth. In fact, Ball State is behind a handful of two-loss teams.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the three unbeaten "little guys" would probably lose to many, if not all, of those one and two-loss teams. Still, the game is played on the field for a reason. If the game was played on paper, and opinions were all that mattered, preseason #1 Southern Cal would be the National Champs, right? Problem is, they lost to Oregon State. And Penn State beat Oregon State, so why should SoCal be ranked ahead of them? I could go on forever, but I'll spare you. My point is this: you can't just guess who the two best are.

Since I'm already knee-deep in this politically-charged rant, I may as well use it to further prove my point.... In American politics there are two prominent "conferences" (parties) that are considered to be the best. This time last year, the leading candidate from Conference A (the Democratic party) was a lady by the name of Clinton. For all intents and purposes, we'll call her Southern Cal. In the other prominent conference, Conference B (the Republican party), the favorite to win was a guy named Romney. Let's call this guy Ohio State. The long-shot, or dark horse, candidate in this whole mess was a guy by the name of Obama. I'll call him Mr. Undefeated Mid-Major.

Do you catch my drift? Ohio State, much like Mitt Romney, was humiliated and out of the picture sooner than you could say "beat down in SoCal." He didn't even get a shot at the "title game." Southern Cal, like Hillary Clinton, was hugely upset and will likely fall short of a "title game" appearance. If opinion polls were the be-all and end-all, Clinton and Romney would have faced off for all the marbles. Instead, they had a playoff (the primaries), and discovered that neither one of these candidates belonged in the big game (the 2008 Presidential Election). In the end, it was Obama over McCain. If we had a college football playoff system this season, the Championship Game might end with Boise State over Florida. You never know.

So as we sit through the final weeks of this college football season and watch things shake out, another BCS disaster could be lurking. Call me a cynic, but I'm actually hoping that that will be the case. And if that is the case, maybe our new president can do something to change things some day. Until then, we can always dream.

Lackluster

I used to be big into sports message boards. There could have been an article with the most insignificant subject matter, and chances are, I had something to say about it. But after awhile, I got sick of the whole scene. From clueless sports fans to close-minded homers, reading and replying to message boards became tiring.

On a summer day a few years ago, with nothing better to do than debate preseason college football topics, my career as a message board scribe ended abruptly. After an explicit disagreement with a Notre Dame football fan, Sportsline.com permanently snatched away my message board privileges. I don't blame them.

Whether you're a message board visitor or not, they can be pretty entertaining to read. I've encountered all types of fans on these things. There are the guys that actually know what they're talking about, the ones that don't, the ones with dirty mouths (me), and everything in between. One type of fan that you find quite often is The Typical Notre Dame Fan.

I don't mean to disrespect any well-informed ND rooters out there (and I'm aware that idiotic fans can be found all over), but these guys are almost funny with their ridiculous expectations, ultra-confident optimism, and poor excuses when things don't go their way. My biggest problem is their inability to view things with clarity. Notre Dame football stinks. Actually, it has for years and I don't think those guys got the memo. The Irish are overrated every season, yet their fans demand the respect of a perennial title contender. What gives?

From 1988 to 1993, Notre Dame was the class of college football. Over those six years, the Irish won at least nine games each year, including five 10-win campaigns. Since those Lou Holtz-led golden years, the Irish have been anything but. In fact, inconsistent would be the best word to describe Notre Dame's recent football history. Since the early-to-mid 90's, most ND teams have increased their win total one season, only to see it decrease the next. They have appeared in a good number of bowl games over the last fifteen years, but winning them is another story. The Irish are winless in their last nine bowl games, dating back to 1995, with an average margin of 17 points per loss. And while Notre Dame has played in some high-profile bowls since the inception of the BCS, whether they deserved to make such appearances can be argued.

I have a few theories as to why Notre Dame football has been so mediocre. The first has to do with the overall parity in college football today. Twenty years ago, how often were "mid-majors" going undefeated? As of today, Ball State, Boise State, and Utah are all undefeated. Generations ago, this would have seemed more foreign than an exchange student. In 2004 the regular season ended with five undefeated teams. If the '08 regular season ended today, the same could be said for the current season. Last year, the winner of the BCS National Championship finished the season with two losses. And without getting too deep into the BCS talk, how many times has the regular season ended with drama over which one-loss team is most deserving of the #2 ranking? Although that question was of the rhetorical variety, I'll take any and every shot I get at the BCS by telling you: virtually every year! Then, there's the most glaring evidence of the parity in college football today: the upsets. Nowadays, huge upsets go down multiple times a week. Twenty years ago, was little Appalachian State upsetting big, bad Michigan in the Big House? Of course not. For that matter, was Notre Dame losing at home to Navy then? I'll let you answer that one.

Still, parity isn't the only reason for Notre Dame's struggles. You've heard me say it before, and I'll say it again... High school athletes are finding more and more opportunities to play college football all over the country. From the undefeated mid-majors I mentioned before, to all the unexpected success stories of the recent past (Northwestern in '95, Oregon State in '00, Wake Forest in '06), kids can attend the traditional BCS cellar-dwellers and still get a great football/academic education. Can you blame them? Why go to Notre Dame and sit for two or three years, when you can start for Texas Tech, LSU, or Cal right away?

In addition to all the opportunities outside of South Bend, and while considering the balance of power in the FBS today, one key factor to winning games that goes hand-in-hand with these is recruiting. College football recruiting in not an exact science. While many recruiting agencies and scouts are dead-on with their evaluations, you never really know what you're getting. And if you've ever followed this process closely, you know that certain schools tend to get a little extra hype each year. It seems as though, sometimes, when certain schools are interested in a player, that player's stock rises. It should work the other way. When was the last time the Tennessee Volunteers were a force in the SEC, or a serious national title contender? Years ago. Yet, if you only followed recruiting sites such as Rivals or Scouts, you would think the Vols were in the BCS hunt every year. The same can be said of Notre Dame. The last four Irish recruiting classes have been considered top-10, at the very least. The actual football team? Not so much.

We all know that players win championships. Guys like Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden haven't changed the way they do things for over 40 years. Yet, their teams have had their ups and downs (although it's been mostly ups for these two). My point is that, generally speaking, coaches don't gain or lose much from year to year. Given that fact, I discard any notion that Charlie Weis or his coaching has anything to do with the continued mediocrity. Maybe kids just aren't marveled, or mystified, by Notre Dame and its great traditions. It's fairly common for young people to neglect old-school traditions today. Maybe religion has something to do with it. Many young people have no religious preference and/or beliefs, and even if they do, very few actually practice. A lot of guys thank God or praise The Lord after a touchdown, big game, or great season. But besides Tim Tebow, how many attend church on Sunday?

Notre Dame and its average performances over the last 10+ years can be attributed to any of these things. My guess is that it's a little of each. There's no denying that a few of my theories affect one another. If there are opportunities elsewhere, recruits will go elsewhere. And if recruits go elsewhere, we will see parity. It makes sense to me. What doesn't make sense to me is the attention that the Irish receive each year. Here is a basic year for Notre Dame football: They hand pick their schedule, lose to the good teams, beat the bad ones, sneak into a bowl they don't deserve because they're independent, lose in the bowl game, get over-hyped during the offseason, and repeat. So why all the attention? Why are there such high expectations? If a team has a bad year or two, it's an accident. If it happens for fifteen straight years, it's a trend. Barack is calling for the abolishment of the BCS. Ditto that, Prez. I just wish that, once and for all, someone would call for an abolishment of Notre Dame football mania.

Greg Oden? Bust?

If you asked NBA scouts a couple years ago, Greg Oden was a can't-miss prospect, considered by many to be a future HOFer. But today some are doubting him. They're even going as far as using the word "bust." Meanwhile, the 20-year old hasn't even played a full NBA game yet.

When Greg Oden was in middle school, we heard all about the young star. Then he went on to be named Gatorade Player of the Year - twice. It surely sounded like he was on his way.

Oden spent one year in college. During that one year, he led Ohio State to a memorable run that ended with a loss to Florida in the National Championship Game. And despite an injury that kept him out of seven games (and limited him in many more), Greg Oden's talent was undeniable.

The 2007 NBA Draft featured many talented young players. But it came down to two guys: Greg Oden and POY Kevin Durant. Portland had won the lottery a month prior to the draft and chose Oden first overall.

Then the ROY talk started and guess whose name was on everyone's lips? Of course, those whispers were soon hushed when the No. 1 overall pick went down during summer camp with a severe knee injury. He needed microfracture surgery. That's when the pessimism began. People began to bring up names like Chris Webber, Allan Houston, and Penny Hardaway. Each were once stars, but each failed to bounce back from microfracture suregery.

But Oden handled it well - physically and psychologically. He maintained a good attitude and worked extremely hard to get back on the court. Plus, it gave him an entire year to get stronger and learn the professional game. And neither one of those things can hurt.

But when Oden finally got a chance to prove himself a couple weeks ago, in Portland's season opener, the young star went down with yet another injury. In college it was his wrist. Lasy year it was his knee. Now it's his ankle. Now people are openly doubting Greg Oden and his ability to stay healthy and live up to his lofty expectations.

It's like that Converse commercial featuring Dwayne Wade where he wakes up at different stages of his life and people keep hatin'. And at the end, the screen reads, "Wade's belief is bigger than your doubt." And every time he gets out of bed, dude just shakes his head and moves on.

I hope Mr. Oden is doing the same each day. Give the guy a chance. Maybe he just happened to have a string of bad luck. The guy can't even buy alcohol yet and folks are writing him off. Amare Stoudamire had microfracture surgery and returned to average twenty and ten. It can be done. Best of luck Mr. Oden.

Best of the Big Ten, Part 3

While Big Ten passing games may be struggling a bit, the conference is loaded with good receivers. They may not have the kind of numbers that the Big 12’s receivers have put up this year, but the talent is there. Currently, the Big 12 can boast that twenty of their receivers are ranked among the top-100 in ypg. The Big Ten has only seven.

Again, this is a running league. And I’m just showing how the Big Ten compares to America’s best conference this year. It is important to remember that the Big 12 is, without question, a passing league where nine players have attempted over 250 passes this year. The Big Ten only has five teams that have done so. You may not like my receiver rankings or may feel that I’m leaving some prominent name off the list. But as I’ve stated before, five names isn’t many and someone good is going to be left out.

1. Arrelious Benn (So.), Illinois – Benn is behind Minnesota’s Eric Decker in virtually every statistical category. But if you’ve ever seen Illinois’ star receiver play, you know who the Big Ten’s best wideout is. This is the most no-brainer call I’ve made all year about anything. Arrelious Benn is huge and his play is even bigger. That’s especially true when he plays top competition. He had a four-game streak of 100+ yards to start Illinois’ conference schedule and each of his receiving touchdowns has come versus a Big Ten opponent.

2. Eric Decker (Jr.), Minnesota – Decker may not be the best pro prospect out there, but his play over the last two seasons has been as good or better than any Big Ten receiver. He leads my No. 1, Arrelious Been, in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. The chemistry between Decker and Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber has helped turn around Minnesota’s program. When Eric Decker is finished at Minnesota, he’ll go down as just another great name on the long list of offensive stars in recent Golden Gopher history.

3. Greg Orton (Sr.), Purdue – Ever wonder why NFL receivers never win the MVP? Or, why college receivers never win the Heisman? Because the receiver can only produce if the quarterback has success. Greg Orton’s senior quarterback, Curtis Painter, has not had much of that this year. But despite the struggles of the Purdue offense, Greg Orton has actually been pretty consistent. In each of Purdue’s road games, all versus quality opponents (Notre Dame, Ohio State, Northwestern), Orton has averaged 7 catches for 88 yards. I like his pro potential and large frame more than Eric Decker, but his numbers just haven’t been there this year. This could be a nice sleeper pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

4. Greg Matthews (Jr.), Michigan – When Rich Rod was hired at UM and began to install his spread option offense, many young stars bolted for the NFL early, some transferred to other schools, and then there were the Greg Matthews-type. Matthews has stuck it out and played through the transition-period at Michigan. The spread option utilizes speed, not necessary size, and its feature players are most commonly an efficient, run-first quarterback and a quick, cutback-style tailback. At 6-3 and 207, Matthews doesn’t seem to fit either one of those descriptions. He’s a big, physical Wolverine receiver, from the same mold as David Terrell, Marquise Walker, and Braylon Edwards. Clearly, the system that Michigan runs and the fact that their quarterback is among the worst in the country hurts the numbers of their star receiver. This is one of many cases around the Big Ten this year where the receiver is outstanding, while the team and/or quarterback is badly underachieving. Matthews is another solid pro prospect. But as I always say, most of Michigan’s star receivers (Desmond Howard, Terrell, Walker) don’t make it in the pros.

5. Brian Robiskie (Sr.), Ohio State – Most people had Brian Robiskie on their All-Big Ten squad in the preseason. Most people were wrong. Ohio State has had a hard time finding the endzone on the ground or through the air. They replaced their senior co-captain quarterback after struggling to score against Southern Cal and today the Buckeyes are led by a true freshman (regardless of whether he’s the biggest recruit ever) and its really hurting both the numbers and exposure of Robiskie and fellow Buckeye receivers Brian Hartline and Ray Small, among others. Robiskie made the short list based on his career up to this point, the fact that I took into consideration his offensive situation and because of a few names I left off…

Honorable mention: Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood (Sr.), Penn State – These Nittany Lion receivers will go down as three of the few best in Penn State history. It’s hard to imagine that they’re seniors already. I listed these guys outside the top-5 because I couldn’t fit them all and it just wouldn’t be right to have one before another. They’ve been dependable and have all brought something different to the table. Williams has been the explosive one. He hasn’t found the endzone much in his career but, when he has, it always seems to be a big one. Butler has been the big-play, deep threat. When I think of Deon Butler, I think of diving catches for 35 yard gains. And Jordan Norwood has been the sure-handed one, known for running the best routes of the three. From the time he stepped onto campus, I’ve always loved how smooth he runs and cuts. My best friend and I call him J-Smooth. On November 22, these receivers will play their final home game at Beaver Stadium versus Michigan State. It will surely be sad to see these guys go. Since they’ve been on campus, Derrick Williams (even when no one took him seriously) stated each year that his goal was a National Championship. Before this season, he insisted that his goal remains the same. With Penn State currently sitting at No. 3 in the polls and having the easiest remaining schedule of the BCS unbeatens, Williams is looking like Nostradamus. Could there possibly be a better ending for Williams, Butler and Norwood than a National Title?

Best of the Big Ten, Part 2

In my last post, I named the top five quarterbacks of the Big Ten conference. After the top few names on that list, there seemed to be quite a drop in production. Curtis Painter has struggled at Purdue in Joe Tiller's final season, Ohio State changed quarterbacks and now plays it safe with Terrelle Pryor, and Allan Evridge wasn't the answer in Madison as the Badgers also changed from one bad QB to another. Just a couple months back, who thought that Todd Boeckman would be an afterthought today?

While the quarterback position is on a down year around the Big Ten, the conference's running backs have been very good. At least five guys will finish with 1,000 yards this season and multiple teams have very good tandems at the running back position and/or a run-first quarterback. The truth is, it’s rather difficult to pick just five running backs for this list. Injuries, the surprising emergence of some players, and a couple cases of RBBC have shaped the face of Big Ten running games. This is a conference known for smash-mouth football and this year is no different. Unfortunately, someone has to be left off the list. You’re top five probably differs from mine, but that’s what makes it fun to talk about it. The top backs this year are....

1. Shonn Greene (Jr.), Iowa – This may surprise you because of my man-crush on Javon Ringer and his biceps. But Shonn Greene, a converted defensive back, has been the best in the league this year. Check out this stat line (through 9 games): 139.7 ypg, 6.4 ypc, and 11 tds. Not good enough for your All-Big Ten First Team? Greene has netted over 100 yds in each game this season, scored in 8 of 9 games, and averaged a conference-best 150.2 ypg versus Big Ten teams.

2. Javon Ringer (Sr.), Michigan State – Despite his recent struggles, Ringer has been great this year. And as stated previously, the blocking has not been. About five weeks ago, I tabbed Ringer as my Heisman pick. Since then, two of his last three opponents (Ohio State and Wisconsin) have proved that he’s human and have most likely eliminated his name from the Heisman talk. Though he may not be the best in the Big Ten this year, I love Ringer’s versatility and his ability to carry a huge load.

3. Chris Wells (Jr.), Ohio State – An afterthought at this point of the season, Beanie was a serious Heisman contender before the year began. He’s missed three games this season, including Ohio State’s game out at So Cal. Take those games out of the equation and his only rough outing came against Penn State. But who doesn’t have a rough day against the Nittany Lions? Penn State's Evan Royster may have better numbers this year, but Chris Wells comes in at No. 3 based on sheer talent.

4. Evan Royster (So.), Penn State - This sensational young back reminds me a lot of Larry Johnson from his '02 campaign. He may not have the same running style, but his patience at the first level and balance at the second level is outstanding for such a young player. While losing a third of the team's carries to freshman Stephon Green this season, Royster has averaged 107.8 ypg at 7.2 ypc for 10 touchdowns.

5. Kory Sheets (Sr.), Purdue - The lone bright spot on an underachieving team, Sheets slashing style has been exciting to watch. It's tough to end your career on a losing note, but Sheets has
has been the only thing keeping the Boilermakers going. He is currently ranked 25th in the nation in rush ypg and has 13 TDs through nine games.

Honorable mention: Tyrell Sutton (Sr.), Northwestern

Best of the Big Ten, Part 1

With the college football season coming down to the wire, the Big Ten has gotten a bad rap this season. Nationally, the public seems to have little respect for what used to be America’s best conference.

Pollsters and fans alike have a bad taste in their mouths from Ohio State's big game collapses. They’ve seen perennial powers Michigan and Wisconsin struggle this season. And with Illinois, Iowa and Purdue underachieving, it’s difficult to argue. Still, Penn State has shown that, with great balance, they deserve to be mentioned among the nation’s elite. And while most of the big-name schools are playing poorly, Northwestern and Minnesota have surprised many. For every action, there is an opposite reaction. That seems to be the case in this year’s Big Ten schedule.

We’ve heard all about the Big 12 quarterbacks. And we’re all aware of the stars of the SEC. But while the overall play of the Big Ten may not be what people expected this year, there have been many great individual performances to speak of. You may not recognize some of the names, but these guys have been spectacular this year and deserve to get a little recognition. Based on this season (while taking injuries into consideration), here is Part 1 of my “Best of the Big Ten.”

Part of the reason that Big Ten is getting little respect this year is because they haven’t had outstanding quarterback play. From first year starters, to personnel issues, this young group isn’t exactly Big 12-caliber when it comes to signal-callers. But then again, who is? Here are the top five quarterbacks…

1. Daryll Clark (Jr.), Penn State – Name a guy that’s been better this year. Prior to the 2008 season, Clark wasn’t sure he’d even be the starter. Through nine games under center, he’s developed into a great leader for one of the best teams in the country. As of today, it’s hard to say that Clark isn’t the Big Ten’s MVP.

2. “Juice” Williams (Jr.), Illinois – Minus a three interception performance at Wisconsin, Juice has been awesome. He’s been more comfortable throwing the ball downfield this year (8.9 ypa) and his running ability is unmatched at the position. There is no quarterback in the Big Ten that’s more exciting to watch.

3. Adam Weber (So.), Minnesota – An unknown name to most, Weber has quietly led the Big Ten in completion percentage (65.9), protected the ball nicely (only 4 turnovers), and led Minnesota (1-11 record in ’07) to a 7-2 record and national ranking.

4. Ricky Stanzi (So.), Iowa – Playing on a run-first team, Stanzi has been both accurate and smart. After a poor performance versus rival Iowa State, he’s recovered nicely by throwing at least one touchdown against each of Iowa’s conference opponents. Plus, he’s done it all while holding off former Iowa starter Jake Christensen.

5. Brian Hoyer (Sr.), Michigan State – The only senior to make this list, Hoyer has struggled at times with an unreliable receiving corps and awful protection. How bad has the blocking been? Michigan State’s Heisman-wrothy running back, Javon Ringer, averages just 4.6 ypc. Sounds kind of crazy. Still, Hoyer rarely turns the ball over and keeps Michigan State in all of their games by not beating himself.

Honorable mention: Terrelle Pryor (Fr.), Ohio State