Speedblog: Clemson vs. Wake Forest
I walked away from the television with the last 90 seconds left of this ball game as Wake Forest will win this game, 12-7.
Clemson was ranked as high as #8 in the nation…what’s up with that? And neither team had any offense. One might say that the defenses were very good, and I would agree, but Wake Forest should have had many more points than that. If you just looked at highlights and not look at the score, you’d swear the score was something like 21-7 or 24-7, Wake Forest.
If Wake Forest represented the second best team in the ACC (or best) then the whole conference is in a serious depression. You can say that it’s competitive, and in truth it is, but right now NOBODY in the ACC is going to scare anybody for the BCS crown. You can go ahead and mark off this conference for a serious contender. Of the six major conferences, I think the ACC and Big East are the weakest.
Having said that, I really did enjoy the play calling for Wake Forest. It’s like they wanted to dazzle the fans and confuse the Clemson defense. And for many parts they did, until they got to the red zone, and completely forgot how to play.
And one thing I kinda get tired of hearing is the guys calling the game saying silly stuff like, “he’s gotta make that catch” or “he’s gotta make that play”. You notice how they ALWAYS say that about the receiver, as if the quarterback is never at fault? I agree that there are some catches that are dropped and is the receiver’s fault, but if a quarterback throws a pass too high, too low, or behind the receiver, or leads him into a dangerous hit, that is the quarterback’s fault.
One of the plays had a receiver that was led into the middle of a couple of defenders, and as he was hit he dropped the ball, to which the guys on ESPN said, “that’s a pass he’s got to make”. That’s hindsight and silly to say, of COURSE he should have made it, but how about passing a plate of BLAME to the quarterback as well.
But it was actually a good game, I enjoyed it, while bouncing back to the Winston Salem State University game on ESPNU. You know me, I love my football…
So now where do we stand with Clemson and Wake Forest?
Wake Forest sits on top of the Atlantic Division and is all but guaranteed post season play. At 4-1, their next two games are at Maryland and at Miami. If this team does not start finding the end zone soon, they are going to lose at LEAST one of these games…possibly even both.
But in the even that they split (which is likely), they should be able to snatch a win from Duke at home, and maybe even Virginia (one of the worst offensive teams in the nation). They’ll probably be 7-2 when they visit Raleigh and NC State, a game that could go either way since it is a state rival. They end their season against Boston College and finally against surprising Vanderbilt. I’m telling you now, that Boston College game may determine who will be playing in the ACC Championship…
But what of Clemson? At 3-3, things are NOT looking good. Already 2 losses in their own division, they simply cannot lose anymore. I really can’t see them beating Georgia Tech, but since it is a home game, and they are very desperate, there is always hope. Games at Boston College and Florida State could prove challenging, but FSU has not shown too much this year. By the time Clemson sees Duke, they could be 4-5 and needing to beat Duke, Virginia AND South Carolina just to make it to a bowl…I would not bet the house on that.
I think that IF Clemson qualifies for a bowl, it will be by a narrow margin, and if so, they may end up going to the Eaglebank Bowl in DC vs. Navy (if they qualify). Personally, I think this bowl would like to invite Maryland or Virginia if they qualify.
So the ACC continues to fight for supremacy, I think Virginia Tech is still the best team in the conference, and you could see VA Tech play Boston College in the ACC Championship…but we’ll see what Wake Forest has to say about that.
Anyway, gotta fly….
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Speedblog: Pacman Jones
Speedblog: Pacman Jones
Oh brother…
Like a lot of us who are into sports, I have seen the escapades of current Dallas Cowboy player Pacman Jones. Recently there has been a situation where he supposedly punched a bodyguard, which is employed by the Cowboys. I am not gonna get into the details of that, you know as much as I do, or can easily pop to a sports site and get the scoop on it.
But what I did want to do is reflect on if he should be punished, and if so, how long. I watched some sports shows (my favorite being Pardon The Interruption) and their take on the Pacman Jones situation. Most of the opinions seemed to say that he deserves severe punishment.
I can see two sides to this, but I think one of the better opinions came from one of the guys on the show “Around the Horn”. While three of these cats were busy hanging Pacman from the highest tree, one felt that the NFL should try to address the alcohol problem, if it is indeed a problem.
You see, it is too easy for some stuffy old sports writer like some of those guys to think that the world is perfect, and anyone who isn’t should move to Mars. I understand that Pacman Jones has screwed up a few times. Heck, even when he went to work at NWA-TNA for a moment, there were reports that he was a jerk there too. So maybe he ought to reap what he has sown.
But if the police report says there was nothing to warrant an arrest and the Dallas Cowboys feel that it is ok, then why punish the man for what you THINK he is doing? I grant you, he is no angel, but how many fights has the average football player gotten into in his career? Sometimes a violent sport creates violent individuals. If it gets to that, then the NFL must discipline them for the greater good. But come on, were you expecting Pacman Jones to visit homeless shelters and go around healing the sick?
This is tough because you have a guy that might not really “get it”, while at the same time he is a good player. But how much can you tolerate? Dallas knew what they was getting when they acquired him, so I don’t blame the Cowboys for trying to “hide” this problem…if there is indeed a problem.
To me, if the police are saying it’s a dead issue and the Cowboys say it is a dead issue, then leave it be…or just fine him something that hurts his wallet…say 100 large ones. Or just suspend him one game. But some of those guys on the talk shows are saying 4 games or a season…way to go there guys, I think it was Woody Paige who said several times, “we are a forgiving country”. Yeah right, we forgive until you slip up and then we bring it all back to count against you.
I personally think Pacman Jones needs to look at his “homeboys”. Sometimes you get in trouble because of your no-account friends….and that word “friends” is a problem. If they were your REAL friends, then they would be protecting Pacman.
I mean, if I knew an NFL player, and we were really tight, and he’s making NFL money, I’d want to make sure he is protected at all times so he can continue to make as much money as he can, and have the best career as he can. I say that because if he’s my best friend, then he’s gonna look after me too, right?
That’s not a selfish thought because he’s my friend BEFORE the money came in. But I also have to realize that he is now an investment to himself, and those around him. So us going to the “club” might not be the best thing. But that’s not to say I should discourage him from ever going out. After all, he’s a grown man.
I really think maybe the Cowboys and the NFL need to see who Pacman Jones surrounds himself with…who are his “friends”. A bodyguard is not a friend, merely an employee. Personally speaking, and I know this is just my opinion, but I think Pacman Jones’ problem isn’t so much alcohol (as far as we know) but the friends he surround himself with. And if his friends are only concerned about hanging out at the club or strip club or acting like a gangster or rapper, they could be using Pacman Jones’ influence and money to live a life they themselves cannot afford.
So is he guilty? Who can say at this moment. I think the Commissioner of the NFL needs to suspend him again, for one game because it is clear that he punched the bodyguard. Sometimes the only way to get a man’s attention is to hit his wallet. But the severity of this incident does not warrant 4 games, not if you have forgiven him for the past…that means you don’t bring it back or count it against him. Didn’t he already pay for that by losing a year?
I am not an Adam Pacman Jones fan, but until things are clearer, I do not agree with some of the sports writers to burn him like a witch in Salem. I say suspend him one game, or until the investigation by NFL is cleared. He gets taught a lesson because he IS at some fault here, and hopefully the media stories will embarrass him to try to keep out of trouble…the rest is up to him.
Anyway, it’s just a thought…gotta run…
Oh brother…
Like a lot of us who are into sports, I have seen the escapades of current Dallas Cowboy player Pacman Jones. Recently there has been a situation where he supposedly punched a bodyguard, which is employed by the Cowboys. I am not gonna get into the details of that, you know as much as I do, or can easily pop to a sports site and get the scoop on it.
But what I did want to do is reflect on if he should be punished, and if so, how long. I watched some sports shows (my favorite being Pardon The Interruption) and their take on the Pacman Jones situation. Most of the opinions seemed to say that he deserves severe punishment.
I can see two sides to this, but I think one of the better opinions came from one of the guys on the show “Around the Horn”. While three of these cats were busy hanging Pacman from the highest tree, one felt that the NFL should try to address the alcohol problem, if it is indeed a problem.
You see, it is too easy for some stuffy old sports writer like some of those guys to think that the world is perfect, and anyone who isn’t should move to Mars. I understand that Pacman Jones has screwed up a few times. Heck, even when he went to work at NWA-TNA for a moment, there were reports that he was a jerk there too. So maybe he ought to reap what he has sown.
But if the police report says there was nothing to warrant an arrest and the Dallas Cowboys feel that it is ok, then why punish the man for what you THINK he is doing? I grant you, he is no angel, but how many fights has the average football player gotten into in his career? Sometimes a violent sport creates violent individuals. If it gets to that, then the NFL must discipline them for the greater good. But come on, were you expecting Pacman Jones to visit homeless shelters and go around healing the sick?
This is tough because you have a guy that might not really “get it”, while at the same time he is a good player. But how much can you tolerate? Dallas knew what they was getting when they acquired him, so I don’t blame the Cowboys for trying to “hide” this problem…if there is indeed a problem.
To me, if the police are saying it’s a dead issue and the Cowboys say it is a dead issue, then leave it be…or just fine him something that hurts his wallet…say 100 large ones. Or just suspend him one game. But some of those guys on the talk shows are saying 4 games or a season…way to go there guys, I think it was Woody Paige who said several times, “we are a forgiving country”. Yeah right, we forgive until you slip up and then we bring it all back to count against you.
I personally think Pacman Jones needs to look at his “homeboys”. Sometimes you get in trouble because of your no-account friends….and that word “friends” is a problem. If they were your REAL friends, then they would be protecting Pacman.
I mean, if I knew an NFL player, and we were really tight, and he’s making NFL money, I’d want to make sure he is protected at all times so he can continue to make as much money as he can, and have the best career as he can. I say that because if he’s my best friend, then he’s gonna look after me too, right?
That’s not a selfish thought because he’s my friend BEFORE the money came in. But I also have to realize that he is now an investment to himself, and those around him. So us going to the “club” might not be the best thing. But that’s not to say I should discourage him from ever going out. After all, he’s a grown man.
I really think maybe the Cowboys and the NFL need to see who Pacman Jones surrounds himself with…who are his “friends”. A bodyguard is not a friend, merely an employee. Personally speaking, and I know this is just my opinion, but I think Pacman Jones’ problem isn’t so much alcohol (as far as we know) but the friends he surround himself with. And if his friends are only concerned about hanging out at the club or strip club or acting like a gangster or rapper, they could be using Pacman Jones’ influence and money to live a life they themselves cannot afford.
So is he guilty? Who can say at this moment. I think the Commissioner of the NFL needs to suspend him again, for one game because it is clear that he punched the bodyguard. Sometimes the only way to get a man’s attention is to hit his wallet. But the severity of this incident does not warrant 4 games, not if you have forgiven him for the past…that means you don’t bring it back or count it against him. Didn’t he already pay for that by losing a year?
I am not an Adam Pacman Jones fan, but until things are clearer, I do not agree with some of the sports writers to burn him like a witch in Salem. I say suspend him one game, or until the investigation by NFL is cleared. He gets taught a lesson because he IS at some fault here, and hopefully the media stories will embarrass him to try to keep out of trouble…the rest is up to him.
Anyway, it’s just a thought…gotta run…
Speedblog: Navy Football
Speed Blogging: Navy Football
I want to make a blog on a subject I wrote about earlier, I wrote a blog debating if Navy could make it to the post season, since things had not started out so well for them. I got a reader who commented on it, and wanted to follow up on that.
My blog stated that there is a bowl that litererally has Navy’s name all over it, all they need to do is qualify for the bowl and they are in. But things didn’t look so good for them at the beginning of the year. Yeah, I know they beat Towson 41-13, but to be honest, that is not a legit Division I win. Remember, you have to have 6 Division I wins OR a quality Division II win to qualify for post season. Towson does not quite qualify.
Navy then lost a game to Ball State, which at the time looked embarrassing, but now turns out to be a good team. But losing to Duke raised a lot of concerns about how legit Navy was, and whether they could even make it to post season.
Remember, they have to have 6 quality wins to qualify, and after 3 games, they really had none. It just wasn’t looking too good for these guys, and you really had to wonder if they could get to a bowl.
On December 20th (such as the date says) the EagleBank Bowl will be played in Washington DC. An ACC opponent will play Navy (such as scheduled). No other bowl promises a reservation to a named school except the Sun and Gator Bowls, both setting aside reservations to Notre Dame if they qualify (amongst other factors). So it is imperative that Navy first wins 6 games.
Can they?
Well, they are already half way there, with three straight wins over Rugters, Wake Forest and Air Force. I didn’t see them winning all three of those, but this was a decent team from last year. But they still have to win 3 more.
Can they win 3 of their next 6 games? Well, Navy has to play Pittsburgh, which will be very tough…let’s just say they lose (not out of respect, just supposing). If so, I can still see them winning against SMU and Temple before facing Notre Dame. As much as I’d like to see Navy win, if I had to pick, I have to go with Notre Dame…
(come on Navy, prove me wrong…..)
If it goes as planned, Navy would be 6-4 before facing Northern Illinois and their final game against Army. Remember, they have 6 wins, but that Towson game is not a Division I game, if it does not count then Navy must win one of those two games. With the earlier wins, this should not be a problem.
But what if they win 8 games…would they take a BETTER bowl than the EagleBank?
It’s gonna be very tough for Navy to get 8 wins, and a scrap to get 7, but I think they have proven that the post season is in the bag. I’d like to see them go anyway, I always pull for the military football schools any chance I get.
Best of luck Navy…you’ll need some of that to get 7 wins…maybe 8.
I want to make a blog on a subject I wrote about earlier, I wrote a blog debating if Navy could make it to the post season, since things had not started out so well for them. I got a reader who commented on it, and wanted to follow up on that.
My blog stated that there is a bowl that litererally has Navy’s name all over it, all they need to do is qualify for the bowl and they are in. But things didn’t look so good for them at the beginning of the year. Yeah, I know they beat Towson 41-13, but to be honest, that is not a legit Division I win. Remember, you have to have 6 Division I wins OR a quality Division II win to qualify for post season. Towson does not quite qualify.
Navy then lost a game to Ball State, which at the time looked embarrassing, but now turns out to be a good team. But losing to Duke raised a lot of concerns about how legit Navy was, and whether they could even make it to post season.
Remember, they have to have 6 quality wins to qualify, and after 3 games, they really had none. It just wasn’t looking too good for these guys, and you really had to wonder if they could get to a bowl.
On December 20th (such as the date says) the EagleBank Bowl will be played in Washington DC. An ACC opponent will play Navy (such as scheduled). No other bowl promises a reservation to a named school except the Sun and Gator Bowls, both setting aside reservations to Notre Dame if they qualify (amongst other factors). So it is imperative that Navy first wins 6 games.
Can they?
Well, they are already half way there, with three straight wins over Rugters, Wake Forest and Air Force. I didn’t see them winning all three of those, but this was a decent team from last year. But they still have to win 3 more.
Can they win 3 of their next 6 games? Well, Navy has to play Pittsburgh, which will be very tough…let’s just say they lose (not out of respect, just supposing). If so, I can still see them winning against SMU and Temple before facing Notre Dame. As much as I’d like to see Navy win, if I had to pick, I have to go with Notre Dame…
(come on Navy, prove me wrong…..)
If it goes as planned, Navy would be 6-4 before facing Northern Illinois and their final game against Army. Remember, they have 6 wins, but that Towson game is not a Division I game, if it does not count then Navy must win one of those two games. With the earlier wins, this should not be a problem.
But what if they win 8 games…would they take a BETTER bowl than the EagleBank?
It’s gonna be very tough for Navy to get 8 wins, and a scrap to get 7, but I think they have proven that the post season is in the bag. I’d like to see them go anyway, I always pull for the military football schools any chance I get.
Best of luck Navy…you’ll need some of that to get 7 wins…maybe 8.
Greatest RBs ever...#5, #4, #3...
Greatest Rbs ever…#5, #4..#3...
So now we are in the top 5 greatest running backs of all time. I have counted down from #25 to this point, so if you have missed any, drop back a few to catch them.
There was a question that came up about the points I award, and what the minimum and maximum points could be. That’s actually a very interesting question.
The minimum is easier to explain than the max, so I will start there. The least a running back could score would be in the negatives. I mean, if a running back never went to a championship, or isn’t in the top 30 in yardage, touchdowns or even yards per carry, then he’d have no points. If he had no individual awards, that would be a zero in that element too, but even with no points he still has to get an era adjustment. A real old school player could get 6 or 7 points deducted by era adjustment, giving them a -6 or -7 on their score…but then, if they were that low, they would not be considered great, right?
Now, as far as the max, that is very relative. I mean, just off the team accomplishments alone, what is the max number of Superbowls or Championships you could win? You can, in theory, win one every year of your career. But what if a guy played 7 years and won 7 Superbowls? That’s 70 points right there! Now that sounds silly, but you see the relativity of the element. I cannot truly say what the max would be, since every player on this list is different.
So let’s continue with the top 5 and see what we’ve got ok?
#5 Marshall Faulk: 62 points
Years ago, when this cat was playing for San Diego State, there was just something special about him. When he was picked by the Colts, he almost immediately began to show his greatness. But it was with the Rams that he solidified his legacy, helping the Rams to two Superbowls. Marshall Faulk was an incredible weapon not just for rushing, but passing as well. As a part of the “Greatest show on turf”, Faulk was indeed one of the key performers on a team that saw much success. A highly decorated running back, he is clearly one of the best…ever.
Why not higher? There are a handful of running backs that are indeed better than Marshall Faulk. Some might wonder why he is listed above Barry Sanders. Faulk has much better post season experience than Barry Sanders, with 2 Superbowl appearances. Some wonder why he is listed above Walter Payton. Faulk narrowly edges out Sweetness by only one point, even with the postseason experience and with the era adjustment against Payton. But Marshall Faulk himself is edged out by one point by the next two individuals. He’s not any higher because the next few are better.
Why on the list? To be one of the greatest of all time, you really have to score well on all three elements. Marshall Faulk scored 17 points in the team accomplishments because of his great postseason experience, and 11 points in the individual stats element, and got major points from the individual awards element. Remember, this is a guy that was selected to 7 Pro-Bowls, won the MVP, Rookie of the Year and other awards. Sure, others may have won that, but few put together the total package of greatness as Marshall Faulk did.
#4 Marcus Allen: 63 points
If the argument of best running back ever included collegiate, then Marcus Allen would be even higher. But this guy made a profound impact on not one, but TWO NFL teams. The Raiders were the first to see his greatness as he led them to a Superbowl victory (something the Redskins won’t forget). I remember this game because as a child I went to a preseason game that next season in DC to watch the “rematch”. We had seats on the field on the Raiders end zone off to the corner and it was the only NFL game I was ever able to go to. We actually left that game late because the Redskins was winning, and we thought it was all over…MY Raiders ended up winning the game. Marcus Allen gave the Raiders some of the last success they would see for a long time, then went to the Chiefs and helped them to find postseason success. Few backs in the history of this game were as outstanding as Marcus Allen and clearly set the mark as one of the greatest backs ever to play the game.
Why not higher? Marcus Allen may have had an extremely great career, but there are better ones ahead of him. He is tied on points with the #3 back, but nobody is going to question his greatness. I certainly cannot say he is THE greatest, even as a Raiders fan, but I can say he is amongst the greatest. Heck, even with 5 more points, he’d still not be any higher, only jumping over #3 and breaking the tie. There is no sin in Marcus Allen being in this spot, he truly has earned that.
Why on the list? No doubt there are many guys that have more points in the team accomplishments than Marcus Allen, but his 14 points in this element is better than greats such as Walter Payton. His team stats element scores him 12, because he is in the top 10 in yards and top 3 in touchdowns. But it’s his team awards that really puts him on this spot, scoring more than all other backs except ONE… we’ll get to him later. But rest assured, Marcus Allen won’t get too many arguments as being one of the best ever.
#3 Jim Taylor: 63 points
The 1960s and the Green Bay Packers will probably have no argument here, but most people will wonder just who this old cat is. Only one other guy was better than Jim Taylor during those days…only ONE. If you remember the earlier countdown, Paul Hornung was listed in the top 15...he was in the backfield WITH Jim Taylor, and the reason why Green Bay won the NFL Championship several times, and the first Superbowl. This was a back that was great in the pre Superbowl era as well as the early Superbowl era. Long after he has retired, he is STILL on the list in some individual stats, solidifying his greatness to the sport.
Why not higher? Well, I already mentioned that while Jim Taylor played, there was one that was better. And he loses 4 points on era adjustment. He is tied with Marcus Allen with 63 points, but I give the nod to Jim Taylor because of his team accomplishments. Remember, a great player makes his team great, and that is not a knock in any way to Marcus Allen. Jim Taylor had a more successful post season experience, which is what makes a great player and a great team. Jim’s championships prove that.
Why on the list? This actually could be a legitimate question, because the novice football fan may not even know Jim Taylor. I mean, personally speaking, he is before my time, so I never saw him play. Before I started compiling this list, I would have omitted him if I wasn’t looking at other lists of great running backs. But Jim Taylor is a perfect example that a great player elevates his team to greatness. What would the legacy be of the Green Bay Packers if they didn’t win those earlier NFL Championships and that first Superbowl?
Well, that takes us into the very elite…and if you have been following my list carefully, you might have noticed something…odd…
We’re down to the #2 and #1 running backs in NFL history…and I’ll reveal then next time…but I wonder if you caught something I just said…and how this makes the debate even more interesting…
Anyway, gotta fly.
So now we are in the top 5 greatest running backs of all time. I have counted down from #25 to this point, so if you have missed any, drop back a few to catch them.
There was a question that came up about the points I award, and what the minimum and maximum points could be. That’s actually a very interesting question.
The minimum is easier to explain than the max, so I will start there. The least a running back could score would be in the negatives. I mean, if a running back never went to a championship, or isn’t in the top 30 in yardage, touchdowns or even yards per carry, then he’d have no points. If he had no individual awards, that would be a zero in that element too, but even with no points he still has to get an era adjustment. A real old school player could get 6 or 7 points deducted by era adjustment, giving them a -6 or -7 on their score…but then, if they were that low, they would not be considered great, right?
Now, as far as the max, that is very relative. I mean, just off the team accomplishments alone, what is the max number of Superbowls or Championships you could win? You can, in theory, win one every year of your career. But what if a guy played 7 years and won 7 Superbowls? That’s 70 points right there! Now that sounds silly, but you see the relativity of the element. I cannot truly say what the max would be, since every player on this list is different.
So let’s continue with the top 5 and see what we’ve got ok?
#5 Marshall Faulk: 62 points
Years ago, when this cat was playing for San Diego State, there was just something special about him. When he was picked by the Colts, he almost immediately began to show his greatness. But it was with the Rams that he solidified his legacy, helping the Rams to two Superbowls. Marshall Faulk was an incredible weapon not just for rushing, but passing as well. As a part of the “Greatest show on turf”, Faulk was indeed one of the key performers on a team that saw much success. A highly decorated running back, he is clearly one of the best…ever.
Why not higher? There are a handful of running backs that are indeed better than Marshall Faulk. Some might wonder why he is listed above Barry Sanders. Faulk has much better post season experience than Barry Sanders, with 2 Superbowl appearances. Some wonder why he is listed above Walter Payton. Faulk narrowly edges out Sweetness by only one point, even with the postseason experience and with the era adjustment against Payton. But Marshall Faulk himself is edged out by one point by the next two individuals. He’s not any higher because the next few are better.
Why on the list? To be one of the greatest of all time, you really have to score well on all three elements. Marshall Faulk scored 17 points in the team accomplishments because of his great postseason experience, and 11 points in the individual stats element, and got major points from the individual awards element. Remember, this is a guy that was selected to 7 Pro-Bowls, won the MVP, Rookie of the Year and other awards. Sure, others may have won that, but few put together the total package of greatness as Marshall Faulk did.
#4 Marcus Allen: 63 points
If the argument of best running back ever included collegiate, then Marcus Allen would be even higher. But this guy made a profound impact on not one, but TWO NFL teams. The Raiders were the first to see his greatness as he led them to a Superbowl victory (something the Redskins won’t forget). I remember this game because as a child I went to a preseason game that next season in DC to watch the “rematch”. We had seats on the field on the Raiders end zone off to the corner and it was the only NFL game I was ever able to go to. We actually left that game late because the Redskins was winning, and we thought it was all over…MY Raiders ended up winning the game. Marcus Allen gave the Raiders some of the last success they would see for a long time, then went to the Chiefs and helped them to find postseason success. Few backs in the history of this game were as outstanding as Marcus Allen and clearly set the mark as one of the greatest backs ever to play the game.
Why not higher? Marcus Allen may have had an extremely great career, but there are better ones ahead of him. He is tied on points with the #3 back, but nobody is going to question his greatness. I certainly cannot say he is THE greatest, even as a Raiders fan, but I can say he is amongst the greatest. Heck, even with 5 more points, he’d still not be any higher, only jumping over #3 and breaking the tie. There is no sin in Marcus Allen being in this spot, he truly has earned that.
Why on the list? No doubt there are many guys that have more points in the team accomplishments than Marcus Allen, but his 14 points in this element is better than greats such as Walter Payton. His team stats element scores him 12, because he is in the top 10 in yards and top 3 in touchdowns. But it’s his team awards that really puts him on this spot, scoring more than all other backs except ONE… we’ll get to him later. But rest assured, Marcus Allen won’t get too many arguments as being one of the best ever.
#3 Jim Taylor: 63 points
The 1960s and the Green Bay Packers will probably have no argument here, but most people will wonder just who this old cat is. Only one other guy was better than Jim Taylor during those days…only ONE. If you remember the earlier countdown, Paul Hornung was listed in the top 15...he was in the backfield WITH Jim Taylor, and the reason why Green Bay won the NFL Championship several times, and the first Superbowl. This was a back that was great in the pre Superbowl era as well as the early Superbowl era. Long after he has retired, he is STILL on the list in some individual stats, solidifying his greatness to the sport.
Why not higher? Well, I already mentioned that while Jim Taylor played, there was one that was better. And he loses 4 points on era adjustment. He is tied with Marcus Allen with 63 points, but I give the nod to Jim Taylor because of his team accomplishments. Remember, a great player makes his team great, and that is not a knock in any way to Marcus Allen. Jim Taylor had a more successful post season experience, which is what makes a great player and a great team. Jim’s championships prove that.
Why on the list? This actually could be a legitimate question, because the novice football fan may not even know Jim Taylor. I mean, personally speaking, he is before my time, so I never saw him play. Before I started compiling this list, I would have omitted him if I wasn’t looking at other lists of great running backs. But Jim Taylor is a perfect example that a great player elevates his team to greatness. What would the legacy be of the Green Bay Packers if they didn’t win those earlier NFL Championships and that first Superbowl?
Well, that takes us into the very elite…and if you have been following my list carefully, you might have noticed something…odd…
We’re down to the #2 and #1 running backs in NFL history…and I’ll reveal then next time…but I wonder if you caught something I just said…and how this makes the debate even more interesting…
Anyway, gotta fly.
Please beware college footbal teams!
Teams in DANGER this weekend
I’ve been having a bit of fun with this, so I might as well do it again. This blog and a few like it, are my ways of just pointing out college games of great interest to the team in question. As the college football season continues to unfold, lots of things have floated up and sunk. This is my take on the teams and games that are extremely important for the entire season of that ball club.
So… let’s begin.
From the mountaintops I have called unto thee to listen to my voice, from even the valleys below I have begged for one ear to incline unto me, and yet, so few have taken heed. So again I make voice and beg for you to hear my words, and beware. There are many teams in college football that stare at their very demise of post season, or a winning season, or a chance at the BCS championship.
Why won’t they listen?
Take Duke Football (PLEASE). In their win over hapless Virginia in Durham, there was a play where one of the Duke players intercepted the football, ran and dove in the end zone. Two of the coaches on the Duke squad chewed this young man out, as if Duke football is USED to scoring. I criticized that because Duke isn’t that great to begin with, and the fans were just as excited as he was. I also pointed out the hypocrisy of what the NCAA tries to show, and what they actually do.
I told you that if Duke has a football game on the next week, I BET you that in the highlight package, they would show that very same dive by that Duke player…guess what…that is EXACTLY what they did.
So now it makes the Duke coaches and the NCAA look like hypocrites, as if Duke Football is used to scoring…well, we sure didn’t see any of that when they played Georgia Tech, did we. As Dennis Green once said, “they are who we THOUGHT they were!”
Duke Football. Hey, I warned you guys about that.
And the ACC has more warnings to take heed to. Thursday night has Clemson playing Wake Forest, in a game that Clemson needs like Al Davis needs a puppet coach. Both teams need to wake up (no pun intended) and start scrapping for that ACC Championship, because the BCS Championship is no longer in their reach…in fact, it never was, not with these two teams.
Clemson, at 3-2, need quality wins fast, because of those 3 wins, two of those don’t count (Citadel and South Carolina State). Can anybody see Clemson finishing 10-2...NOT. I’ll bank them 2 games, but that means they still need to win 3 more games to qualify for a bowl. It’s gonna be close folks, they might barely qualify for a bowl, but if they can’t beat division rival Wake Forest, it may be over for the Tigers.
And if so, what of Wake Forest? I just don’t see them running the tables in the ACC, they are not that good, and that loss to Navy really showed the underbelly of this team. You just can’t lose a game at home if you want to be in a BCS bowl. With home games against Clemson, Duke, Virginia, Boston College and Vanderbilt, this can give Wake Forest some high credibility in the polls. Can they win all 5? No, but a win against Clemson gets them on the road to hopefully cracking the top 10 if they are as good as they say they are.
Beware Louisville, many fear that the better days of the Cardinals have passed them by. Yet this team is hard to figure out. The last couple of years Louisville has started out like the favorites to win the Big East and possibly go undefeated on their way to a BCS Championship…then everything falls apart.
Take great care Louisville, that 2-2 record can get as high as 7 wins if you do what you are capable of doing, but games vs. South Florida, Pittsburgh and West Virginia could be tough matchups. You’re on pace to be guaranteed a bowl…but if you miss this game against Memphis…woe unto thee!
How the mighty have fallen Michigan…and yet, you still must be warned!
Instead of 2-3, your record should be 1-4 after Wisconsin stopped playing football and you realized that you could win that milestone game. So now you got a couple of wins under your belt and thought you were ready to make a run…until Illinois reminded you where you belong this year.
Before you can get to a bowl, you must win 6 games… that means you must win 4 more games. If the other Big 10 teams are as good as advertised, I don’t see you beating Penn State, Michigan State or Ohio State. And with away games at Purdue and Minnesota, this might be critical. This is a game you MUST have this weekend, playing Toledo in your house. Lose this, and your season is OVER.
Cautions go out to both teams of the Salvage Bowl…ECU and Virginia.
Two teams that had higher expectations must now salvage a season by trying to get to a bowl. ECU once drank champagne and caviar with the royalty of the top 25, now they are packing bologna sandwiches and drinking Kool-Aid. They need 3 more wins to qualify, and if they do, they will be picked up by a lower seeded bowl UNLESS they win the Conference USA title. It may be hard playing road games for the Pirates, and this will show when they travel to Virginia to play their third ACC team this year. National title hopes are long gone, as well as BCS bowl hopes, now they are hoping for the next best thing, which is a Liberty Bowl.
But Virginia needs this win BAD. If ECU is dining on bologna sandwiches and Kool-Aid, then Virginia has dined right next to them. This is NOT the Virginia team we are used to seeing, and losing to Duke is a very embarrassing slap in the face. But a shut out win over Maryland gives hope. Virginia isn’t going to a bowl this year because I cannot see them winning 5 out of 7 games. Not gonna happen, but they need to build confidence and salvage a season with a few more wins. ECU could deliver that…or break their backs.
Take heed South Carolina…your post season is on the line this weekend! A 4-2 record is nice, although one of those wins was against Wofford, so let’s call it 3-2 since we’re talking about winning 6 Division I games to qualify for a bowl. This means you need 3 more wins in the very tough SEC. You can split your final 6 games and still make it to a bowl, but that means you cannot afford to lose any more than 3 games. With LSU and Florida on the schedule, that won’t be easy at all. And with Tennessee and Clemson this could be a toss up. This means that the Arkansas game later this year and the Kentucky game this weekend could be the key games for your entire season. These are the games you gotta have.
And while I am at it, Kentucky must also be careful. A lot of people around the nation are saying of your football team those immortal words that Dennis Green said…
“They are who we THOUGHT they were”
When you lost to Alabama, but this was not such a disappointing loss. The jury is still out on how good you are, and this will be proven against South Carolina. But this will not be an easy road at all. Mississippi State and Arkansas MIGHT be your best chances for wins, which means you need to steal at least one more game from either South Carolina, Florida, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Tennessee…good luck with that.
And what of the Huskers? Who will warn them of the danger to come? Missouri dropped more points on Nebraska than Wall Street, and now here comes Texas Tech to continue the spanking. If ever there was a time to say that your program is back on the map, this is it. Sure, lots of people still think Texas Tech isn’t worth the top 10 billing, but that means if you beat them, you get the cred for crushing a top 10 team. I personally think your post season is in jeopardy, I think the Huskers are assured of at least 6 wins, maybe even 7, but that is based on a very soft schedule to start the season. But a win against #7 Texas Tech is a nice feather in your hat.
And finally, a red-light warning goes out to Notre Dame and UNC. I am very sure that the Irish are happy that UNC has a ranking number beside it, because it gives Notre Dame the idea that they are finally playing somebody other than the cupcakes they have been beating this year. Shame on this “football institution” for lowering their standards.
With Navy and Syracuse on the schedule, Notre Dame has virtually assured themselves of a bowl, but somehow they didn’t think that they’d have to actually PLAY UNC. I mean, the Tarheels are not a good football team, so this should have been an easy win…but this year might be a little different. And if they can beat UNC, there then would have to be some thought in Notre Dame being a top 25 team. The are, at this moment, possibly looking for a BCS bowl, but one more loss will crush those hopes…USC may end up doing that, but will they be 10-1 by then? Nah…not possible, right?
UNC has been smiling at the new life they have been given, and a pretty impressive 4-1 start. With a home game vs. Notre Dame, they have everything in place to make this a true battle. But are they REALLY top 25 caliber? A close win vs. McNeese State, a win over hapless Rutgers, a loss at home vs. Virginia Tech, a close and emotional win against Miami (where Butch Davis, current coach of UNC, used to coach), and a win over a UCONN team with key players out with broken bones.
I am a Tarheels fan…but this kinda looks suspect. The wins almost looked situational, but a win is a win. Now we will see if this team is REALLY good, or just visiting the top 25 like a vacationer to the beach.
We will learn so many things this weekend, won’t we?
Anyway, that’s some of the games of interest. I know there are bigger games, ones with National Championship implications on the line, I wanted to highlight some of these as well. Whoever your team is, I hope they win this weekend. Have fun!
I’ve been having a bit of fun with this, so I might as well do it again. This blog and a few like it, are my ways of just pointing out college games of great interest to the team in question. As the college football season continues to unfold, lots of things have floated up and sunk. This is my take on the teams and games that are extremely important for the entire season of that ball club.
So… let’s begin.
From the mountaintops I have called unto thee to listen to my voice, from even the valleys below I have begged for one ear to incline unto me, and yet, so few have taken heed. So again I make voice and beg for you to hear my words, and beware. There are many teams in college football that stare at their very demise of post season, or a winning season, or a chance at the BCS championship.
Why won’t they listen?
Take Duke Football (PLEASE). In their win over hapless Virginia in Durham, there was a play where one of the Duke players intercepted the football, ran and dove in the end zone. Two of the coaches on the Duke squad chewed this young man out, as if Duke football is USED to scoring. I criticized that because Duke isn’t that great to begin with, and the fans were just as excited as he was. I also pointed out the hypocrisy of what the NCAA tries to show, and what they actually do.
I told you that if Duke has a football game on the next week, I BET you that in the highlight package, they would show that very same dive by that Duke player…guess what…that is EXACTLY what they did.
So now it makes the Duke coaches and the NCAA look like hypocrites, as if Duke Football is used to scoring…well, we sure didn’t see any of that when they played Georgia Tech, did we. As Dennis Green once said, “they are who we THOUGHT they were!”
Duke Football. Hey, I warned you guys about that.
And the ACC has more warnings to take heed to. Thursday night has Clemson playing Wake Forest, in a game that Clemson needs like Al Davis needs a puppet coach. Both teams need to wake up (no pun intended) and start scrapping for that ACC Championship, because the BCS Championship is no longer in their reach…in fact, it never was, not with these two teams.
Clemson, at 3-2, need quality wins fast, because of those 3 wins, two of those don’t count (Citadel and South Carolina State). Can anybody see Clemson finishing 10-2...NOT. I’ll bank them 2 games, but that means they still need to win 3 more games to qualify for a bowl. It’s gonna be close folks, they might barely qualify for a bowl, but if they can’t beat division rival Wake Forest, it may be over for the Tigers.
And if so, what of Wake Forest? I just don’t see them running the tables in the ACC, they are not that good, and that loss to Navy really showed the underbelly of this team. You just can’t lose a game at home if you want to be in a BCS bowl. With home games against Clemson, Duke, Virginia, Boston College and Vanderbilt, this can give Wake Forest some high credibility in the polls. Can they win all 5? No, but a win against Clemson gets them on the road to hopefully cracking the top 10 if they are as good as they say they are.
Beware Louisville, many fear that the better days of the Cardinals have passed them by. Yet this team is hard to figure out. The last couple of years Louisville has started out like the favorites to win the Big East and possibly go undefeated on their way to a BCS Championship…then everything falls apart.
Take great care Louisville, that 2-2 record can get as high as 7 wins if you do what you are capable of doing, but games vs. South Florida, Pittsburgh and West Virginia could be tough matchups. You’re on pace to be guaranteed a bowl…but if you miss this game against Memphis…woe unto thee!
How the mighty have fallen Michigan…and yet, you still must be warned!
Instead of 2-3, your record should be 1-4 after Wisconsin stopped playing football and you realized that you could win that milestone game. So now you got a couple of wins under your belt and thought you were ready to make a run…until Illinois reminded you where you belong this year.
Before you can get to a bowl, you must win 6 games… that means you must win 4 more games. If the other Big 10 teams are as good as advertised, I don’t see you beating Penn State, Michigan State or Ohio State. And with away games at Purdue and Minnesota, this might be critical. This is a game you MUST have this weekend, playing Toledo in your house. Lose this, and your season is OVER.
Cautions go out to both teams of the Salvage Bowl…ECU and Virginia.
Two teams that had higher expectations must now salvage a season by trying to get to a bowl. ECU once drank champagne and caviar with the royalty of the top 25, now they are packing bologna sandwiches and drinking Kool-Aid. They need 3 more wins to qualify, and if they do, they will be picked up by a lower seeded bowl UNLESS they win the Conference USA title. It may be hard playing road games for the Pirates, and this will show when they travel to Virginia to play their third ACC team this year. National title hopes are long gone, as well as BCS bowl hopes, now they are hoping for the next best thing, which is a Liberty Bowl.
But Virginia needs this win BAD. If ECU is dining on bologna sandwiches and Kool-Aid, then Virginia has dined right next to them. This is NOT the Virginia team we are used to seeing, and losing to Duke is a very embarrassing slap in the face. But a shut out win over Maryland gives hope. Virginia isn’t going to a bowl this year because I cannot see them winning 5 out of 7 games. Not gonna happen, but they need to build confidence and salvage a season with a few more wins. ECU could deliver that…or break their backs.
Take heed South Carolina…your post season is on the line this weekend! A 4-2 record is nice, although one of those wins was against Wofford, so let’s call it 3-2 since we’re talking about winning 6 Division I games to qualify for a bowl. This means you need 3 more wins in the very tough SEC. You can split your final 6 games and still make it to a bowl, but that means you cannot afford to lose any more than 3 games. With LSU and Florida on the schedule, that won’t be easy at all. And with Tennessee and Clemson this could be a toss up. This means that the Arkansas game later this year and the Kentucky game this weekend could be the key games for your entire season. These are the games you gotta have.
And while I am at it, Kentucky must also be careful. A lot of people around the nation are saying of your football team those immortal words that Dennis Green said…
“They are who we THOUGHT they were”
When you lost to Alabama, but this was not such a disappointing loss. The jury is still out on how good you are, and this will be proven against South Carolina. But this will not be an easy road at all. Mississippi State and Arkansas MIGHT be your best chances for wins, which means you need to steal at least one more game from either South Carolina, Florida, Vanderbilt, Georgia and Tennessee…good luck with that.
And what of the Huskers? Who will warn them of the danger to come? Missouri dropped more points on Nebraska than Wall Street, and now here comes Texas Tech to continue the spanking. If ever there was a time to say that your program is back on the map, this is it. Sure, lots of people still think Texas Tech isn’t worth the top 10 billing, but that means if you beat them, you get the cred for crushing a top 10 team. I personally think your post season is in jeopardy, I think the Huskers are assured of at least 6 wins, maybe even 7, but that is based on a very soft schedule to start the season. But a win against #7 Texas Tech is a nice feather in your hat.
And finally, a red-light warning goes out to Notre Dame and UNC. I am very sure that the Irish are happy that UNC has a ranking number beside it, because it gives Notre Dame the idea that they are finally playing somebody other than the cupcakes they have been beating this year. Shame on this “football institution” for lowering their standards.
With Navy and Syracuse on the schedule, Notre Dame has virtually assured themselves of a bowl, but somehow they didn’t think that they’d have to actually PLAY UNC. I mean, the Tarheels are not a good football team, so this should have been an easy win…but this year might be a little different. And if they can beat UNC, there then would have to be some thought in Notre Dame being a top 25 team. The are, at this moment, possibly looking for a BCS bowl, but one more loss will crush those hopes…USC may end up doing that, but will they be 10-1 by then? Nah…not possible, right?
UNC has been smiling at the new life they have been given, and a pretty impressive 4-1 start. With a home game vs. Notre Dame, they have everything in place to make this a true battle. But are they REALLY top 25 caliber? A close win vs. McNeese State, a win over hapless Rutgers, a loss at home vs. Virginia Tech, a close and emotional win against Miami (where Butch Davis, current coach of UNC, used to coach), and a win over a UCONN team with key players out with broken bones.
I am a Tarheels fan…but this kinda looks suspect. The wins almost looked situational, but a win is a win. Now we will see if this team is REALLY good, or just visiting the top 25 like a vacationer to the beach.
We will learn so many things this weekend, won’t we?
Anyway, that’s some of the games of interest. I know there are bigger games, ones with National Championship implications on the line, I wanted to highlight some of these as well. Whoever your team is, I hope they win this weekend. Have fun!
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