I'm currently working on the list; it's a long way off from being done, though. I'm still putting together songs that will be considered for the list, then I'll work my way down the list to narrow it to the 100 best. I'll go in reverse order and probably post by the 10s. I'll try to cover every era, from the early 80s to the present. Currently a work in progress.
Decided to do some number crunching to get an idea of the level of competition Georgia and Florida have faced up to this point. To start, Florida's offense is:
Florida's Offense: 21st in rushing offense (196 yards per game) 61st in passing offense (214.29 yards per game) 31st in total offense (410.29 yards per game) 7th in scoring offense (42 points per game) 11th in pass efficiency (158.32 rating)
To place these figures in context, Florida has played opposing teams ranked a combined:
51st in rushing defense (allowing 132.94 rushing yards per game) 41st in pass defense (allowing 191.3 passing yards per game) 42nd in total defense (allowing 324.2 total yards per game) 60th in scoring defense (allowing 24.3 points yards per game) 49th in pass efficiency defense (allowing a 117.68 rating)
From this, Florida's defensive competition has been a mixed bag; some opponents--such as Kentucky and Tennessee, have solid defensive units, while others such as Ole Miss and Arkansas have fielded bad ones. Because of this uneven level of competition, Florida's slate of defensive opponents has been mediocre as a whole. Now for Florida's defensive rankings:
15th in rushing defense (allowing 102.71 rush yards per game) 17th in passing defense (allowing 170.71 pass yards per game) 13th in total defense (allowing 273.43 total yards per game) 6th in scoring defense (allowing 11.86 points per game) 9th in pass efficiency defense (allowing a 99.06 rating)
Florida's defense has been much improved over last year's, and it shows in the statistics. The pass defense is what sticks out the most, as Florida finished 98th in this category last year. Now, let's examine the offenses Florida has faced. On average, they have combined to be:
76th in rushing offense (134.26 rushing yards per game) 67th in passing offense (206.15 passing yards per game) 78th in total offense (340.41 total yards per game) 70th in scoring offense (24.52 points per game) 82nd in pass efficiency (115.33 rating)
From this, one thing is clear: Florida's played some horrendous offenses. The Gators haven't faced a single team that is ranked in the top 25 in any of these categories; the closest they have come is facing a LSU unit that is 30 in total offense and 33rd in scoring offense. In short, Florida has yet to be tested by an offense of Georgia's caliber. In terms of rankings, Georgia is:
39th in rushing offense (172.50 rushing yards per game) 23rd in passing offense (258.75 passing yards per game) 25th in total offense (431.25 total yards per game) 24th in scoring offense (34.25 points per game) 22nd in pass efficiency (148 rating)
From this, it's clear that UGA's offense is better than the majority of the offenses Florida has faced, and that's being generous. They are balanced, and can move the ball and score point efficiently. Let's place their offensive output in context, though. Their opposing teams have combined to be (and for this, I have included Georgia Southern's offensive and defensive numbers; even though they are a FCS team, I have applied new FBS rankings to their statistics according to what they would represent if they played in the FBS):
46th in rushing defense (allowing 124.8 rushing yards per game) 56th in pass defense (allowing 204.07 passing yards per game) 46th in total defense (allowing 328.93 total yards per game) 47th in scoring defense (allowing 21.83 points per game) 45th in pass efficiency defense (allowing a 116.39 rating)
From this, it can be seen that Georgia has faced slightly better defensive competition overall. Here, South Carolina and Alabama make the difference, as both teams have top 20 defenses in terms of total and scoring defense. A straight extrapolation of Georgia Southern's statistics also works in UGA's favor, as there's no real way of knowing how'd they actually fare against FBS teams. Examining the Bulldog defense, we see that they are:
6th in rushing defense (allowing 76.88 rushing yards per game) 77th in passing defense (allowing 221.25 passing yards per game) 21st in total defense (allowing 298.13 total yards per game) 36th in scoring defense (allowing 20.25 points per game) 57th in pass efficiency defense (allowing a 121.81 rating)
Georgia's rushing defense has been dominant, but their passing defense leaves a bit to be desired. The passing figure cannot be attributed to big leads by Georgia, as the Dawgs have only beaten three of their eight opponents by more than 14 points. It could mean that teams are forced to pass since they are unable to run against UGA's front line. However, let's examine this further. UGA's opponents have managed to produce offense on the order of being:
70th in rushing offense (139.86 rushing yards per game) 60th in passing offense (207.85 passing yards per game) 67th in total offense (347.71 total yards per game) 65th in scoring offense (25.78 points per game) 66th in pass efficiency (123.05 rating)
From this, Georgia has played better offenses than Florida as a whole, though, again, directly extrapolating GSU's statistics helps them here. Still, Georgia's defense is largely untested against top offenses. Georgia, like Florida, has played no top 25 offenses in terms of scoring or total yardage; the closest offense to it has been--again, like Florida--LSU's. In the common game between the two, Florida surrendered 21 points; Georgia gave up 38. This game, however, means little in determining how good each teams' units are. They are both largely untested on both sides of the ball; this can be seen in the fact that Florida will be the best offense Georgia has faced up to this point, while Georgia will be the best team Florida has faced up to this point. Defensively, the same holds true (though South Carolina has a better total defense ranking, Florida's scoring defense is better) for both teams. Will the slight edge UGA has in competition faced translate to a win? That remains to be seen.
Goodness gracious. So much for Kentucky having one of the SEC's best defenses.
On a college football day that's been riddled with blowouts, Florida got the ball rolling early dropping 63 points against a hapless and injury-laden Kentucky squad. Coming into today, Kentucky was allowing a mere 11.9 points per game and 282 yards per game. Florida topped the former total halfway through the first quarter and had more than doubled the figure by quarter's end. The Gators also ended up with 448 total yards. However, special teams was the highlight of the day, and Brandon James wasn't involved in any of the big plays. Instead, Florida blocked Kentucky's first two punts, thanks to freshmen William Green and Jeffrey Demps. They also blocked a Wildcats field goal attempt, courtesy of Joe Haden. From there, Florida had the game well in hand. Offensively, Florida rolled down the field with little resistance, taking advantage of both the good field position and Kentucky's injuries. Tebow scored four touchdowns on the day--two rushing and two passing--despite relatively mundane numbers. He finished 11-15 for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and added 9 carries for 47 yards and two more scores. The biggest offensive play came off of a short pass Tebow completed to Demps, who promptly turned upfield and outran the entire Wildcat defense for a 61 yard score. Other than that, though, the offense was content with picking Kentucky apart methodically, with Rainey and Demps getting medium gains on carries and Tebow finding open receivers for positive gains.
Defensively, Florida played with intensity, even when they grabbed the early lead. Joe Haden had two pass breakups, and Major Wright and Ahmad Black each added one, with Black's being an interception return for a touchdown to begin the second half. They stuffed the run, and played magnificently against the pass; combined, Kentucky quarterbacks finished a mere 17-36 for 127 yards and one interception. The secondary tackled well, and the front seven's pursuit was a continuation of their play against LSU. There was no letdown on either side of the ball, and the Gators are playing top-level ball going into their game against Georgia.
Most importantly, though, Florida fans got a glimpse into the future as a good number of backups got the opportunity to playing significant minutes during the blowout. Freshman safety Will Hill may not have usurped Ahmad Black's (who might be the most underrated player on the team right now) strong safety spot, but he played throughout the game and racked up 11 tackles. And Lorenzo Edwards gave Florida fans a reason to feel better about Brandon Spikes' almost certain early entry into the NFL as he rolled up 6 tackles in the fourth quarter alone. Brandon Hicks collected 4 tackles, and Carlos Dunlap added 3 tackles, as well as an assisted sack. It was a good day all around for the Gators, and the future of the team looked bright as they played well during the second half.
Now that the UK game is over with, the players are focused on Georgia; they were all tight-lipped during the after-game press conference, but the mood of the question and answer period indicates that Urban Meyer has this team locked on getting revenge on a Bulldogs team that humiliated the Gators last year. The much ballyhooed endzone celebration by UGA sits at the center of it all, but besides that, there was plenty that UGA did that's worthy of a little revenge, such as sacking Tim Tebow 6 times, or cutting Knownshon Moreno loose for over 180 rushing yards. To win this game, Florida's going to have to continue to play as they have the past two games on both sides of the ball, controlling the line of scrimmage and containing Moreno, while letting Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey get yards on offense. Additionally, the Florida offensive line must stop the blitz better than they did last year; if they can't, the Gators are going to be hard pressed to win. Georgia is going to be the best offense--and best team period--that Florida faces; the secondary is going to have it work cut out for them to say the least.
- Hope we start the game off on a good note; the offense needs to come out clicking so as to prevent a possible early deficit. We've struggled coming out of the gate during early games; we looked bad for a quarter against Hawaii, lost to Ole Miss because of a bad start, and struggled for a half against Arkansas. Tomorrow needs to be a statement game for Florida; it needs to show that the Gators aren't looking ahead to the Georgia game, that the team is focused on beating Kentucky.
- Kentucky's going to be the toughest defense Florida's faced up to this point in the season. The Wildcats are 18th in total defense and 7th in scoring defense. On the flip side of that, the best scoring offense Kentucky has faced is ranked 36th in the nation, and Kentucky has only played two teams with a scoring offense in the nation's top 50. Florida, by contrast, is ranked 16th in this category.
- Kentucky's front seven has played lights out so far this year, and the team is 15th in the nation in sacks and 18th in tackles for loss. Look for the Wildcats to use blitzes to try and keep Tebow out of rhythm. If they manage to do so with a four man rush, it'll be interesting to see how Meyer and the Florida coaching staff adjusts.
- Kentucky's weak spot is their rush defense, as it is ranked 51st in the nation. Look for Florida to try and exploit this early and often with Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps. If they have success early, the game could get out of hand quickly for the Wildcats.
- Offensively for Kentucky, it will be interesting to see how they perform against Florida's defense; they're 88th in the nation in rush offense, while Florida is ranked 15th in rush defense. Kentucky is ranked 76th in pass offense, while Florida is ranked 26th in pass defense. Given this, it will be interesting to see what UK's offensive gameplan is going to be; with the losses of Demoreo Ford and Derrick Locke, Randall Cobb is going to be their primary playmaker on offense. He had 5 catches for 73 yards against Arkansas, including two late touchdown receptions that helped give the Wildcats a one point win over the Razorbacks. Look for him to matchup against freshman cornerback Janoris Jenkins. If they can put the clamps on Cobb, Kentucky is going to be hard pressed to move the ball.
- Kentucky is 9th in the nation in pass defense, thanks in large part due to cornerback Trevard Lindley. He should be matched up against Percy Harvin; given this, it will be interesting to see how Tebow responds to their secondary, and whether or not any of Florida's other receivers step up should Harvin be limited. Look for whether or not Louis Murphy, Aaron Hernandez, or Deonte Thompson becomes more involved in the passing game, and whether or not Harvin does more in the running game if his pass catching opportunities are limited by Lindley.
Prediction: Kentucky will give Florida problems early on, but Florida gets it together on offense before pulling away.
......is heartbreaking for me. Not only was this one of the most anticipated inter-conference games of the preseason, West Virginia was supposed to be so much better than they are. They're currently losing to an Auburn team that couldn't buy an offense before tonight. Really though, I feel sorry for Pat White and Noel Devine. White is one of the best playmakers in the country period, and one of the few guys I'd take over Tebow (Chase Daniel, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford are the other three) if I were choosing a quarterback. Why? Because Bill Stewart seems determined to turn White into a pocket passer. For God's sake, let the kid do his thing. He's probably the fastest guy on the field not named Devine, so let him move outside the pocket. Let him run until his legs are tired, because this passing deal isn't working. Throw in some screens and flare passes to the receivers, but otherwise, run, run, and run some more.
And give Devine more touches, dammit. The guy had all of 5 carries in the first half, but still managed to rack up 80 yards rushing. He's a playmaker. When he touches the ball, good things happen. He averages almost 7 yards a carry. Let the guy get involved in the offense.
And now, as I type this, he just ripped off another 13 yard gain. It's his SEVENTH carry of the game, and they're halfway through the third quarter.
......compels me to further explain my Colin Powell post. This is simply a further expansion on where I think the issues of black people lie.
To begin, I'll say this: from a superficial standpoint, the Juan Williams ilk does address reasonable points. Personal responsibility is a value that should be further emphasized, because quite frankly, something has to happen so that we can all put a foot in these deadbeat dads' behinds. We all know the statistics: 70% of black households are headed by single mothers, there are more black men in prison than in college, etc. Obviously, something is missing from the pot given just these two figures. Also, there has to be a renewed commitment to family on the part of the fathers who just impregnate women and run, because quite frankly, it isn't fair that a child is left without a father because that person didn't want to take responsibility for his own flesh and blood. On these two issues, the pundits have it right.......sort of. I'll address why in a minute.
However, back to the issue of black America for a second. It is beyond short-sighted to assume that blacks are bereft of ideas such as this, or to have the perception of black conservatives as shining beacons in a sea of darkness. The ideas of responsibility and accountability have existed with the black community for years; Malcolm X--both as a member of the Nation of Islam and as a Sunni Muslim--is probably the best historical example of it. Hell, Louis Farrakhan, as reviled as he is these days, was a proponent of this, so from a "leadership" standpoint, these beliefs have always existed. In a more general sense, these beliefs still hold as well; conversations about it are held in black neighborhoods, homes, and barbershops all over the country. I'm reasoning as a I write here, but perhaps, the biggest issue is that these sentiments aren't expressed in public spheres enough. Perhaps it's easy for deadbeat dads to remain deadbeats when they know that there's no public clamoring for him to step up and do his job as a father. I'm not quite sure about this, personally. However, I've seen enough in my lifetime to know that values such as accountability are quite existent in the black community.
Here's where people like Williams get it wrong: to act as though these values, and these values alone, are the answer to black people's ills is to only see one part of the equation. In a larger sense, to act as though it is simply a so-called victim complex that's hampering race relations in America is an egregious distortion of reality. Yes, stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility will help black families, and yes, the victim complex that some blacks have hinders race relations to a certain extent. However, it's going to take more than one course of action to fix these complex issues. Issues like the lack of fathers in the household give rise to more issues such as high crime rates and low graduation rates for black men; that, in turn, feeds the stereotypes of black men as criminals and lazy, do-nothings. It defies common sense to think that simply saying "stop being a victim and pull yourself up" is going to solve these problems. Another thing to consider: none of this happens in a vacuum. The deadbeat dad who's skipping out on his child probably came from a single parent household himself. Probably never learned the value of getting an education from his parent, and simply doesn't know any other way to live his life. This doesn't excuse him for his actions later in life, but I point this out to say that these problems are cyclical in that the repetition of them is almost surely to produce the same or similar result in later generations. Given this, is it really that big a secret that a child who grows up without a father runs out on his own child later in life? Think about it like this: that child's mother worked all day to pay bills while he probably attended some inner city school with shitty teachers. That desire to learn, the relevance of education is never established in that child, and he or she is essentially ruined at a young age. Children can learn, but in the absence of a support system, of a family to instill values into his being, that child's not going to get very far. The ultimate problem with the logic of a Juan Williams is that it starts too late down the line, when that young child becomes an adult. They ignore the circumstances that surround his upbringing, they ignore that young child who could have learned something in school didn't see the need to because his parents weren't around to tell him why learning was so important. In short, they disconnect adult actions from childhood context.
Again, I don't knock black conservatives as a whole based on a few of the cats that I disagree with, but guys like Williams do blacks a disservice with such a half-assed view of the black community. They present no real answers too the ills of blacks, only recycled platitudes that appease their audiences. It's the equivalent of taking a pound of flesh off of the backs of blacks with each word spoken on the subject.
Remember when Kanye West was known as simply a good producer who relied on soul samples?
Well, it seems as though those days are long behind him; love him or hate him, you have to admit that West has come a long way from "College Dropout," both as a producer and an emcee. He has, in my estimation, gone from being a top-tier producer to the most creative and talented artist in hip-hop period. His soulful beats have become epic, orchestral works with a fullness that puts his earlier work to shame. Even a beat as stellar as the one he put together for "Never Let You Down" pales in comparison to the sheer brilliance that was his production work for a song like "I Wonder." Why? Because Kanye is one of the few hip-hop acts left--mainstream or underground--who consistently pushes himself and gives himself challenges. It is the reason that his work has gotten better with each album, with "College Dropout" being well-done, yet largely bereft of serious subject matter, "Late Registration" being better lyrically, sonically, and topically, and "Graduation" being his most mature work to date. The ego that drives him to meltdown during the MTV VMAs is also the same ego that pushes him to be the best artist he possibly can be.
What, then, do I make him Kanye's next project, entitled "808s and Heartbreak"? I think it's an example of Kanye toeing the line between greatness and failure. From a career standpoint, it's a progression that is both logical and illogical. Logical because doing something like making an entire album where one sings through an auto-tuner is something no one else has done, and illogical because the auto-tuner itself has been so overused in hip-hop as of late. It's unlike West to trendhop, much less make said trendhopping the basis of an entire album. However, West is creative enough to make it work, particularly given his production prowess. Judging from the two singles leaked already, he seems to have the right idea. "Love Lockdown" isn't the best song he's done, but it's a good enough single; I'm more of a fan of "Heartless," personally.
So Former Secretary of State Colin Powell gave his support to Barack Obama a few days ago. In an interview with Tom Brokaw on "Meet the Press," Powell officially endorsed Obama, reasoning that the Democratic nominee displayed steadiness and intellectual curiosity while positing that McCain lacked a grasp of the economic crisis that still looms over America's head. Interestingly enough, he also expressed a dismay for his own party and the tactics adopted to win the election for John McCain, citing the time spent on William Ayers as an example of the McCain campaign attempting to distract the American people from real issues. Powell, the moderate and always composed diplomat that he is, was able to give such a nuanced--yet poignant--response for his endorsement for Obama that most would be hard-pressed to provide a reasonable counter. However, it hasn't stopped people from providing half-assed reasons.
It's interesting--and ironic--that the Republican party (and here, I speak of people who claim to be Republican, not politicians) claims to be the color-blind party; they'd rather judge by content instead of color. That is, of course, unless someone steps out of line. In the past few days, I've heard the "Powell's only voting for Obama because he's black" line tossed around more times than I care to count. Imagine, a well educated man with military experience, and a member of the Republican party itself, being tossed to the wolves as someone too tribal to think rationally. It smacks of not only short-sightedness, but downright pettiness as well. Here's a guy who served his country, and became the first black Secretary of State in US history, being reduced to a caricature of an ill-educated, ignorant black youth straight from the ghetto. The reason for this? The guy expressed an opinion. Never mind the valid points he brought up in his reasoning, such as the ugly way the McCain camp has decided to conduct its campaign in light of poll deficits and a premium on time. Never mind the fact that the Republican party has moved increasingly to the left over the past eight years. It couldn't possibly be that a black man has an actual reason for voting for Barack Obama other than his being black. At best, this is naivete, and at worst, it's pure, unadulterated racism. Powell's credentials speak for themselves, so reducing him to a cartoon and attacking the cartoon is far easier than attacking Powell himself.
The most interesting part of it all? For years, Republicans touted Powell as their black conservative. He was their answer to the left-leaning critics who lambasted the Republican party as racists. This role has also been played out through the likes of Alan Keyes, JC Watts, and--in the media circuit--pundits such as Juan Williams. The problem with this, however, is that you can't account for personal opinions. Powell was a moderate conservative to begin with, so is it really that big a shock that he expressed a dislike for the current state of his party? Is it really that much of a shocker that someone would find McCain's fixation on Bill Ayers to be--as Obama put it himself--more indicative of McCain than of Barack? With this dynamic, Republicans paint themselves into a corner; instead of making genuine attempts to appeal to black voters, they seem to think that simply touting the few black conservatives in the party is going to do it. Guess what? It's not working, and it hasn't been working. When black people see cats like Juan Williams on TV, they don't think, "Gee, maybe I should reconsider my political stances," not when guys like him are essentially black analogues to conservative personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly (without the personality). Instead, they look at these guys and see them for what they are: easy scapegoats so that the far right white conservatives can feel vindicated in their own ugly beliefs about blacks. Yes, Juan Williams and the rest talk a good game about personal responsibility and the rebuilding of black families, but what most whites miss is that this attitude's been present in the black community for quite some time. Hell, these exact same principles have been present since Malcolm X, and even the Nation of Islam under Louis Farrakhan espoused these beliefs. The perception that the black conservatives of today are the only ones in the black community with this belief set is a terribly misguided one; in fact, I'd venture to guess that a healthy majority of blacks are conservative in this regard. Where cats like Williams go astray is when they approach more complex issues with this same, simple solution set, as if something as all-encompassing as race relations can be fixed solely by black people. This ignores the dynamics between blacks and whites and makes it entirely a black problem; it shifts the burden entirely on one race of people and gives them the responsibility of fixing everything. This is the ultimate failure of experts like Williams and Larry Elder: racism is obviously a two way street, and requires effort by both blacks and whites for any progress to be made. Beyond this, though, is the constant "victim" ideology that's talked about in reference to black issues. Going hand in hand with personal responsibility, Juan Williams and his ilk have a simple solution for issues such as high incarceration rates, low graduation rates, and high crimes rates: stop playing victim, pick yourself up by your bootstraps, and make it. See what I mean by talking a good game? It sounds good, if you disconnect actions from the circumstances that surround them. And what does "playing victim" mean, anyway? That all blacks sit around and stew angrily over the white man? This is ridiculous at best and condescending at its worst to treat all black people as one solid bloc of white hatred. Contrary to what Larry Elder and Juan Williams believe, blacks do not ruminate 24/7 about the ills of the white man. We do not sit around at home--with sagging pants, low hanging gold chains, and white T-shirts--and think about the many ways to blame white people for our shortcomings. Many of us work. Some go to college, and others even like white people. None of this is to say that blacks don't have any issues, because to do so would be intellectually dishonest. I do think that personal responsibility needs to be emphasized more, and I do believe that families need to become important with the community again. However, I write because I take issue with the perception that these things are non-existent for blacks.
And I also don't mean to blast all black conservatives; I have great respect for true conservatives like JC Watts, Thomas Sowell (even as he's become more political hack than economist as the election has progressed), and Alan Keyes. However, I have no respect for the faux conservative "blame the blacks" TV/newsprint personalities like Larry Elder, Juan Williams, and Jesse Lee Peterson. They don't provide any real answers for blacks or whites, and turn the issue of race into a one-sided affair that's more ugly and disgusting than it is constructive.
Then again, they're just doing what their audience asks of them: alleviate their feelings of wrongdoing by having these guys tell them that race is a spectre in today's world, that blacks should just get over it and whites aren't to blame at all. In short, it's personal responsibility for blacks, but none for whites.
Doak Walker Award: Javon Ringer Biletnikoff Award: Jarrett Dillard Mackey Award: James Casey Maxwell Award: Colt McCoy Walter Camp Award: Chase Daniel Butkus Award: Scott McKillop Thorpe Award: Eric Berry Outland Trophy: Michael Oher Bednarik Award: Malcolm Jenkins Davey O'Brien Award: Colt McCoy Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: Chase Daniel Bronco Nagurski Award: Malcolm Jenkins Vince Lombardi Award: Jonathan Luigs Lou Groza Award: Sam Swank Ray Guy Award: Kevin Huber Randy Moss Award: Brandon James Heisman Trophy: Colt McCoy
A few surprises, particularly at TE, RB, and QB. I gave McCoy the nod over Daniel since Colt led his team to victory over a top ranked Oklahoma squad. Also surprises at DE and CB.
Offense: QB: Colt McCoy RB: Donald Brown RB: Javon Ringer FB: Chris Pressley WR: Jarrett Dillard WR: Michael Crabtree TE: James Casey OL: Ciron Black OL: Eugene Monroe OL: Michael Oher OL: Jonathan Luigs OL: Duke Robinson
Defense: DE: Brian Orakpo DT: Sen'Derrick Marks DT: Lawrence Marsh ;) DE: Nick Reed LB: Gerald McRath LB: Brandon Spikes LB: Scott McKillop DB: Alphonso Smith DB: Syd'Quan Thompson DB: Kevin Ellison DB: Eric Berry K: Brett Swenson P: Kevin Huber PR/KR: Brandon James
Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin get a lot of love from the national analysts, and rightfully so. However, Florida is 5-1 this year primarily because of an improvement on defense. So far this year, Florida is giving up 96.3 rushing yards per game, 178 passing yards per game, and 13 points per game, good for 17th, 31st, and 10th in the nation for each category respectively. By comparison, last year, Florida gave up 103.3 rushing yards per game, 258.54 passing yards per game, and 25.5 points per game, good for 10th, 98th, and 46th in those categories respectively. See the difference? The defense has stepped up and improved, despite the difference in rush defense rank. Defensive tackles Lawrence Marsh has 3 sacks, and has been the biggest reason for Florida's improvement in rush defense. The linebackers have played well as a unit as well, with Brandon Spikes leading the way while Brandon Hicks and AJ Jones have played well alongside him. However, the biggest improvement has been in the secondary; while there aren't any shutdown cornerbacks in the group Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins may be the best young CB duo in the nation right now. Haden has been consistently good throughout the year, while Jenkins seems to be more of a playmaker; in 3 games starting, he already has as many pass breakups (5) as Malcolm Jenkins does in twice as many games. Yes, the same Malcolm Jenkins who's going to be a first round draft pick this year. He seems to be more of a natural then Haden, which makes sense given that Haden is a converted wide receiver. Both are good corners, and should only get better with time.
Offensively, who would've thought that Jeffrey Demps would become Florida's go-to-guy at tailback? He undoubtedly has to be after putting up two straight 100-yard games, including 129 on LSU. Chris Rainey should split carries with him as well, giving Florida two freshmen RBs in the backfield. Of course, this may mean that Emmanuel Moody gets left out on the cold, which is a shame given that he's injured and can't actively compete for playing time right now. However, there's no use in fixing something that isn't broken, right?
And now to name Florida's biggest newcoming impact players on offense and defense:
Offense: - Jeffrey Demps, who leads the Gators in rushing yards and is averaging over 13 yards per rush - Chris Rainey, who is second on the team in rushing yards and is averaging over 6 yards per carry
Defense: - Lawrence Marsh, who has 3 sacks, 19 tackles (6 TFL), and one QB hurry - Janoris Jenkins, who has amassed 22 tackles (1 TFL) 5 pass breakups, a sack, and a forced fumble - Ahmad Black, who has 28 tackles (1 TFL), 2 interceptions, a pass breakup, and a blocked kick
Switching gears, Clemson's Tommy Bowden got canned today, after Clemson went from ACC favorite, to....well, where they've been ever since Bowden became head coach: mediocrity. Seriously, what the hell was Clemson thinking when they gave this guy an extension to begin the year? Why did they keep this guy around for so long? They've been the most talented team in the conference for years now, and they've got the two most talented tailbacks in the conference as well. There's no reason for a team led by James Davis and CJ Spiller to be .500 right now. Even funnier is Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper coming out and saying that he deserved to be fired. Did you mention that you deserved to get benched for Willy Korn for those 10 interceptions you've thrown so far? Probably not. Back to Bowden, though: he's been the most underachieving coach in the nation for half a decade now. Cullen Harper threw 27 touchdowns and 7 interceptions last year; he already has 10 now. Davis and Spiller were both 1000 yard rushers last year. Aaron Kelly had over 1100 yards receiving last year. None of these guys are doing well this year. Why? Because Bowden seems content to squander the talent he has around him. At least Clemson finally got smart and cut him loose.
However, who do they find to replace him? Personally, I hope that they don't hire from within or grab some retread coach who's only waiting for his next coaching job. Give some young, up and coming coach a chance. Give a non-BCS conference coach a chance. Here's some guys I'd like to see take CU's HC position:
- Craig Bohl, Head Coach at North Dakota State (FCS Team) - Bronco Mendenhall, Head Coach at BYU - Jerry Moore, Head Coach at Appalachian State - Bobby Johnson, Head Coach at Vanderbilt - Pat Hill, Head Coach at Fresno State - Gus Malzahn, Head Coach at Tulsa
All of those guys are good coaches, and can bring new life to a stagnant Clemson program. As for the Tigers, the walls already seem to be coming down. 5 star commit Craig Loston has already decommitted and is opening his recruiting again. On the field, it doesn't seem to be getting better. Maybe Cullen Harper can improve his play if he gets another chance to start, but for now, Willy Korn is leading the team. His inexperience will be a negative for the team, and with Clemson's shoddy play from its offensive line, Davis and Spiller aren't going to be effective. The Tigers may just go from being a runaway favorite to win their conference to not even being bowl eligible.
It was a night where everything went right for the Florida Gators. Remember the questions asked before the game?
Would Florida be able to contain Charles Scott? Would Florida be physical enough to handle LSU? Would Tim Tebow finally be able to lead his team to victory against a top ranked opponent?
The answer to all? A resounding "yes." And Florida got a lot of help from different players to do it. In fact, this is exactly why Florida was able to handle the Tigers: they got multiple players involved early and often. During the first quarter alone, Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey, Jeffrey Demps, Deonte Thompson, and Riley Cooper all got touches on offense. The ball distribution not only kept LSU's defense guessing, it made sure that they could not key in on one particular player. Tebow took advantage of this early, finding Harvin in single coverage for a 70 yard touchdown pass to begin Florida's scoring binge for the night. Defensive back Danny McCray almost intercepted the pass, but because he mistimed his jump, he only managed to tip it right into Harvin's hands. From there, the rout was on: three field goals by kicker Jonathan Phillips, an interception return for a touchdown by Brandon Spikes, another touchdown pass to Harvin, a 42 yard dash by Jeffrey Demps, a touchdown run by Tebow, and another by Kestahn Moore. LSU simply had no answer for the Gator offense on Saturday night, as they rolled up 475 yards of total offense, including 265 on the ground.
Also, Florida's found a new tailback: Jeff Demps. His 42 yard touchdown run aside, Demps broke arm tackles and consistently ran the ball between the tackles for big gains; in all, he racked up 129 rushing yards on just 10 carries. Chris Rainey chipped in as well, getting 65 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game with a dislocated shoulder. This freshman 1-2 punch paced the offense against Arkansas as well, and seems to be poised to take the reigns for the rest of the year. With the run game established, Tebow got to sit back and relax a little; after throwing the ball ten times in the first quarter alone, he threw it only 11 more times the entire game. He finished 14-21 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly for him, he stopped sitting in the pocket and ran for first downs when he got the chance. His rushing stats weren't gaudy--he only ran for 22 yards--but he used his legs enough to keep the chains moving and keep the ball in Florida's hands. His numbers aren't where they were a year ago, but he was composed, and was able to pick LSU's defense apart early.
Defensively, the Gators were even more impressive. Charles Scott, who had run for over 100 yards in each of his first four games, was held to 35 yards on 12 carries against Florida. LSU's offense never got into a rhythm because of this, and Jarrett Lee was forced to beat Florida's secondary. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful, throwing two picks--both to Brandon Spikes--and making bad throws throughout the night. Lawrence Marsh continued his string of good play at defensive tackle, and Terron Sanders helped him out as the two anchored the front four against LSU's running game. However, the MVP of the defense--outside of Spikes--was undoubtedly Janoris Jenkins. He was the best cornerback on the field last night, racking up 9 tackles, breaking up two passes, and picking up a sack. He has played beyond his years since taking the starting spot away from Wondy Pierre-Louis; in his three games starting, he already has 5 pass breakups and 22 tackles (17 in the games he's started). In short, Florida's defense played well on every level on Saturday: they controlled the line of scrimmage, they stopped the run, and the secondary tackled well and broke up passes.
Most importantly, though, Florida made a statement to the rest of the nation that they are still an elite team. After some questions about Tebow's ability to lead his team to victory against other elite competition, Tebow and the Gators responded loudly. They stopped LSU in its tracks and scored at will, and because of it they've vaulted all the way from 12th to 5th in the AP Poll. They're 7th in the Coaches' Poll. They also control their own destiny in the SEC East, which means that if they continue to win, they will be going to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game at the end of the year, with a BCS bowl at stake. It was a great win for the Gators, and a crushing blow for the defending BCS Champions.
Offensive Props: - Tim Tebow, for going 14-21 for 210 yards and 2 TDs, as well was 12 carries, 22 yards, and a TD - Percy Harvin, who recorded 112 yards receiving and 2 TDs on 6 receptions - Jeffrey Demps, who ran for 129 yards and a TD on 10 carries - Chris Rainey, who ran for 65 yards on 11 carries - Florida's offensive line, for playing its best game of the year
Defensive Props: - Janoris Jenkins, for racking up 9 tackles, a sack, and two passes deflections - Brandon Spikes, who had 5 tackles and 2 INTs, one of which was returned for a TD - Major Wright, for recording 7 tackles - Florida's defensive line, for putting the clamps on Charles Scott
For the life of me, I can't understand the "Tim Tebow doesn't look as good this year" talk.
Last year, Tebow finished the year 234-350 passing for 3286 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. For you mathematicians, that averages out to 18-27 passing, 252.8 passing yards, 2.46 touchdowns, and .46 interceptions per game. So far this year, Tebow is averaging about 15.8 completions and 25.8 attempts per game. His completion rate has gone down from last year (it's 62% this year compared to 67% last year), as has his yards per attempt (9.39 last year as compared to 8.01 this year), but he's still first in the SEC in pass efficiency (and 24th in the country), 5th in pass yards, and has the least number of interceptions thrown of any SEC starting quarterback. My point in this? To say that Tebow even in a "down" year has still been pretty damn good. In between questionable playcalling by Dan Mullen and a less effective pass blocking unit, Tebow's still done well as the offense has sputtered. He showed in the Ole Miss game that he can throw the ball as well as any QB in the country when given the opportunity, and hasn't played that badly so far this year despite being reigned in. Tebow needs to be let loose, in fact; the offense functions best when Tebow's given the chance to throw the ball and hit his receivers. Going into this game against LSU, the coaches should really consider letting Tebow be Tebow.
Speaking of the LSU game, I have to say that I'm truly excited about this game. It's at The Swamp, and it'll be on during primetime; two top 15 teams going at it in a game that has major conference consequences. Coming into this game, the Gators are just 1-4 against top 25 teams with Tebow at the helm. Compare this to 2006, when the Gators wen 7-1 against top 25 teams with Chris Leak leading the way. LSU is ranked 3rd in the Coaches' Poll, as has looked strong against their competition. They struggled against Auburn, but quarterback Jarrett Lee played lights out during the second half and the Tigers were able to come back against Auburn. Tailback Charles Scott paced their offense, running for 141 yards. For Florida to beat LSU, stopping Scott is a must; he averages 7 yards per carry, and it could be a long night in the Swamp if Florida's defensive line can't control the line of scrimmage. It's going to be a tough game for Florida to win to say the least; if we manage to pull it out, then Florida gets back into the top 10, stays in the SEC Championship picture, and also gets back into national title game talks. If not, then Florida--barring help from Vanderbilt and Georgia--is out of the SEC Championship Game picture in October. More than that, though, it may be time to start questioning Tebow's leadership abilities, as well as the coaching staff. Put bluntly, losing this game would knock Florida down from elite team status.
It wasn't always pretty, but when Florida's offense finally got in rhythm, Arkansas had not answer for it. After three quarters of sputtering and penalty-plagued football, Florida's offense found a groove and exploded for 21 points in the fourth quarter of yesterday's game. The three scoring drives were for 80, 83, and 73 yards, and the Gators made big play after big play down the stretch, including plays of 75, 48, 21, 20, and 19 yards during the three drives. The most encouraging part of this? Percy Harvin had little to do with it. Instead, the Gators spread the ball around all game; Tim Tebow completed passes to eight different receivers, with Louis Murphy leading the way with 5 receptions for 70 yards. Harvin, by contrast, had a modest game; after a tremendous 264 total yard performance last week, he finished with 6 carries for 37 yards and 3 catches for 37 more. He did have a 21 yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, but his biggest role yesterday was that of a decoy. Given the struggles Florida has had offensively, it was nice to see them play so seamlessly during the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Gators bent but did not break; one area where the defense has obviously improved is in fourth down play. Whereas last year's unit struggled mightily in getting the offense off the field, Arkansas went for fourth downs twice during the first quarter, only to be turned away both times. The first one was foiled when Carlos Dunlap sacked Casey Dick, and the second resulted in Ahmad Black tackling Arkansas tight end DJ Williams two yards short of the first down marker. The Gators also racked up four sacks during the game. Despite the good, though, the defense still struggled for much of the game; Casey Dick passed for over 260 yards, and Michael Smith ran for 133 more and a touchdown. Penalties, and some big plays by Florida's defense, however, prevented the Razorbacks from scoring for much of the game, as they only put up seven points despite 361 yards of offense. The secondary played a big role in that, as Joe Haden and Major Wright both recorded eleven tackles--with Haden adding an interception as well-- and Janoris Jenkins adding two key pass breakups early in the game. Ahmad Black may be the unsung hero of yesterday's game, however, as he had six tackles, stopped a key fourth down opportunity, and blocked a field goal attempt.
So what's the final verdict on this game? Hard to say, really. One can't argue with 514 yards of offense and 38 points, can he? My only quibble is that I wish the Gator offense would get in rhythm earlier. Spreading the ball around is a great thing, and Florida did this early and often, but they simply have to work on the penalties. Hopefully, Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps will have a chance to make an impact early against LSU. Defensively, Florida couldn't generate a consistent pass rush and could not stop Arkansas from moving the ball between the 20s; however, the defense stiffened when the Razorbacks hit the red zone, holding them to seven points. It shows that the unit has a long way to go, but is getting better with each game.
Props on Offense: - Jeffrey Demps, for 102 rushing yards and two TDs on just 7 carries - Chris Rainey, for 103 yards rushing and one TD on just 10 carries - Louis Murphy, for 70 receiving yards on 5 catches - Tim Tebow, for going 17-26 for 217 yards and 2 TDs (though his streak of consecutive passes without an interception ended at 204)
Props on Defense: - Joe Haden and Major Wright, for recording 11 tackles apiece - Ahmad Black, for racking up 6 tackles and a blocked field goal - Janoris Jenkins, for starting and breaking up two passes - Brandon Hicks, for starting in place of Dustin Doe and recording 6 tackles - Brandon James, for recovering a fumbled punt return and having yet another kickoff returned for a TD called back due to holding
I've had a few hours to think about the exchange between Coates and McWhorter.
To begin with, let me say that it was nice to hear a civil, yet spirited debate between two individuals who obviously sit on opposite sides of the fence as it concerns the issues discussed in their conversation. No personal attacks or mud-slinging, just a respectful exchange of ideas. In terms of the aesthetics of the debate, I believe that style-wise, McWhorter came across as being extremely polished and informed. I don't mean this as a shot against Coates, who held himself well, but McWhorter's academic background showed in the manner in which he spoke. Substantively, however, I can't say that I agreed with much of what McWhorter had to say. In a general sense, my biggest problem with him lies in the fact that an obviously educated man seemed so content to reach for simplistic answers to complex questions. The first instance in which this is evident is when the two are discussing hip-hop as a revolutionary flashpoint; while Coates points out that the distance between an actual revolution and literal one (thus allowing for a lot of middle ground as it pertains to how the genre can affect individuals), McWhorter seems to attack a mindset that I'm not sure is prevalent outside of the black intellectual community. Even then, I would question what serious academic mind truly believes that hip-hop could be (literally) revolutionary. I'm sure that such a state of mind exists, but to hip-hop listeners at large, I'm not sure that it does. Furthermore, I believe that McWhorter makes the mistake of giving us a black and white scenario when one is not necessary; just because hip-hop is held out by some as the revolutionary powder keg does not automatically mean that this is the sole purpose of the music. On a large scale, hip-hop could serve as one of many perspectives on which people view the world, or it could serve as something that individuals use to cope with their daily ills. For the poor--to use an example--Mobb Deep's street depictions could serve as a mirror in which people see themselves and their surroundings, but it doesn't only have to be the backdrop by which those same people institute change. By that same token, just because hip-hop falls short of such a lofty goal does not mean that it can't help poor blacks in some way, given the scenarios I mentioned above. When hip-hop is reduced to these two scenarios, it is easy to dismiss it; however, such a course of action is ultimately useless when considering hip-hop's relevance to the public at large.
Another point is which McWhorter errs is in his critique of hip-hop's confrontational tone. In the first place, to reduce hip-hop to its tone--thus divorcing it of its message--and call this the most attractive element that it has to offer seems obtuse to me. Sure, when we're dealing with younger listeners, the rebellious element does strike a chord. However, again, this seems awfully simplistic for a well-versed scholar. Why? Because I believe that he sells hip-hop listeners short. Since he--by his own volition--took the 50 Cents of the hip-hop landscape out of the equation, he also takes white, suburban listeners out of the equation. This is important because it eliminates the very audience McWhorter indirectly alludes to: those who are taken in by hip-hop's "confrontational cadence." Instead, what's left is a predominantly black audience, and one that I suspect can identify with the images that The Roots and Public Enemy depict in their rhymes. Because of this, I really don't believe that they're taken in by some hip-hop group talking tough on a record; the message, the fact that there's actually a group giving their struggles a voice, is the ultimate winner. Furthermore, to dismiss this message as "a middle finger" and "[saying] more complicated things" is simply a short-sided view to adopt, because it is exactly those "complicated things" that brings in their core audiences. Thirdly, how else is hip-hop supposed to sound? Since we're talking about groups like Public Enemy, wouldn't any other tone actually be inappropriate? PE rapped about the ills of black America, racism, poverty, and discrimination; their message was, "This is what's happening in the black community. Do something about it!" It was supposed to be angry and confrontational. In fact, their message wouldn't have rang true if it wasn't delivered in an angry tone. For McWhorter, I'm not sure why the tone would be a negative; taken to its extreme, it would be understandable, but Public Enemy wasn't an extreme group. Tupac in his pre-1996 days wasn't extreme. They all conveyed the negative aspects of their surroundings and screamed for change.
The next incident occurs when Coates and McWhorter talk race; in fact, the latter's most egregious oversimplification is here, when he emphasizes the importance of the policy changes brought on by the Civil Rights Movement while completely overlooking the emotional significance that it entailed. McWhorter is absolutely right to point out that instituting change is difficult; however, to dismiss an "I Have a Dream" type moment is outright wrong-headed. It ignores common sense to do this; to organize large groups of people like the Civil Right Movement did is difficult to do. Policy change was definitely important, but getting people to march--convincing those people that they were worth fighting for, that they were worthy of being treated equally to whites--was equally important. Malcolm X's greatest impact was that he helped to rebuild the collective self-esteem of the blacks who followed him (and even some who did not). Before you can lead a movement, before you can get people to willingly march and put themselves on harm's way, you must first give those people the self-esteem necessary to do those things. Otherwise, it's just not going to happen. Again, McWhorter is correct to point out that the Civil Rights Movement did hard work, but he fails to realize that each "I Have a Dream" speech, each rally, and each emotional plea, validated the self-worth of black people. These were certainly not side dishes to the main course; they were just as important as the legal and governmental changes the movements brought about.
John's failure to understand Coates' point of view on race is less astonishing, but still indicative of the conservative viewpoint that encompasses his approach to their conversation. From the outset, he attempts to simplify Coates' views as a "bone deep distrust of the white man," as opposed to acknowledging that a person with a different background may react differently to whites. He fails to grasp Coates' point that a black person who grows up in a segregated neighborhood (and thus has little to no exposure to whites) is going to have a distrust and/or fear of whites. Coates is also correct to point out that this fear has certain historical roots; the lynchings of blacks may not play a conscious role in how some blacks view whites, but they most certainly are aware that these things have happened. Perhaps McWhorter grew up in a place where he did not encounter much in the way of racism, but at the very least, it seems as though he should be able to acknowledge that for others, it does exist. For some, racism is a malevolent and predominant force; this may not be the most rational point of view to take, but it is one that exists. The disconnect between John's and Ta-Nehisi's views lies in the fact that while the latter is able to put himself in the shoes of those whom he addresses and defends, the former is unable to do so. McWhorter's viewpoint on race also colors his opinion of Obama as a legitimate candidate, as evident in his stance that his race has played an important factor in his rise to popularity. What he fails to realize is that while he supports Obama, and acknowledges that he is an intelligent and eloquent candidate, he negates all of this by reducing the reason for his candidacy to race. This is the ugly rationale of a Rush Limbaugh, or an Ann Coulter, not of a scholar; Obama's race--particular his upbringing--does lend him an exotic air that intrigues the public. However, it is irresponsible to throw out a claim like this, not when it is so difficult to prove. How would one go about proving it? Such an analysis ignores other forces that have helped Obama, such as his taking a page from Howard Dean's playbook and getting a grassroots internet following; the media's putting he and Hillary Clinton as the two top candidates in the Democratic primaries (which thus left John Edwards as the third wheel); Obama's efficacy in running his campaign and the crucial errors made by Hillary's camp (I'm looking at you, Bill Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro). In one way, I'm happy that such a discussion took place because I got to see a young man who--while still obviously growing--was able to convey his opinions and display a level of maturity beyond his years. In another way, it disheartens me that his counterpart, a scholar with the benefits of age and experience, has such a rudimentary understanding of issues that are obviously complex.
Then again, no one sane would ever claim that older people are automatically more intelligent, would they?
What is the best hip-hop track ever made? For years, I'd have told you that Nas' "The World is Yours" held that title: Nas's sharp street narratives and his majestic flow are a treat to listen to, but Pete Rock's beat pushes it to classic status. That hypnotic piano loop? Just a pleasure to the ears. In recent times, however, I've changed my opinion. About year ago, while my wife was at work, I put aside my MP3 player and decided to play some of my CDs on the computer; after about an hour of listening to A Tribe Called Quest's "The Low End Theory," I dug up Mos Def's "Black on Both Sides." It's one of the few albums that I'll listen to from start to finish. "Hip-Hop" had just playing through the speakers, and "Love"--which I had usually considered one of the album's slower moments--began to play. I listened to the words, and after the song finished, I played the song back.
And then I did it again. And again. Four consecutive times, I listened to "Love," and was floored. It was the first time that I truly appreciated the track for what it was: Mos Def's love letter to hip-hop. Throughout, he professes his love for the music, first giving his love context by illustrating the relationship his parents had for one another:
My pops said he was in love when he made me Thought about it for a second wasn't hard to see I could hear he was sincere was a game of promotion The entire affair's probably charged wit emotion But love call your heart, I guess you got to persue 12-11-73 my life is testament Praise the beneficent, element that rest......
These lines lay the groundwork for the entire song, as he uses this as the basis for which he loves hip-hop. The first verse is touching in its sincerity; Mos Def stays out late and stays up writing rhymes; even when he doesn't know what to write, his love for hip-hop remains constant. However, it's his second verse that makes this song so special:
My folks said they was in love when they had me I take they love they made me wit to make rhymes and beats (Can you feel?) The raw deal, it's all wheel-driven Contemplate the essence of beats, rhymes and living Speech in line wit the rhythm, designed wit the rhythm Ears and eyes keepin good time wit the rhythm I shine wit the rhythm, the Black Star Gallactica Big number fleetin, we ancient like the Abbacca's.....
These lines are poignantbecause they show just how deeply Mos is affect by the craft that he loves; each line, each musical note, is of the utmost importance and cannot be wasted. Mos Def is on a mission: to craft perfection with each song he writes. The fact that he acknowledges this with these lines:
After us, I see most proceed to be trees Sproutin leaves, given breeze to the we who believe I MC, which means I Must Cultivate the earth Back straight backs, hard beats and hard work I be the funky drummer to soften the hard earth.....
Is what makes this song classic; for me, these are easily the best lines of the song. Here, he acknowledges that hip-hop isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life, something to be taken seriously. For Mos Def, it's his job to work in the studio, to work as hard as he can to put out good product. In fact, it seems as though he's obligated himself to do this, either for his own preservation, hip-hop's, or both. This is reaffirmed in the song's closing lines:
Uptown to Boogie Down, yo just look around AND SHOOK UP THE WORLD!, like Ali in 6-3 (right) I'm reachin the height that you said cannot be I'm bringin the light but you said we can't see Saw the new day commin, and it look just like me Some burst through the clouds, my photo ID I bring light to your day and raise yo' degree The Universal Magnetic, you must respect it >From end to beginning, ? true and livin EVERY CHANGING, it was a state of magnificent Building it now for the promise of the infinite Building it now for the promise of the inifinite....... Perfection. This is the ultimate defense of hip-hop: Mos Def's love letter to the genre itself on wax. I encourage you all to check it out below:
Dustin Doe, Ryan Stamper, Jim Tartt, Emmanuel Moody, and Maurice Gilbert are all injured. Doe is out for two weeks with a double hernia, while Moody is also out for two weeks with a sprained ankle. Tartt's reaggravated a shoulder injury and is basically playing on a week to week basis at this point. Stamper is questionable for this week's game because of an ankle sprain.
Honestly, only Moody's injury concerns me, and that's because he'd just gotten into the flow of the offense. I've never been that high on Doe, and neither Tartt nor Gilbert's made much of an impact on the offensive line. Stamper's done well this year, but if he's hurt, Brandon Hicks--who I happen to like-- can step in; he lacks Stamper's versatility, but Hicks seems like a better OLB. The only thing I can say for Moody's injury--besides that I hope he gets well soon--is that I hope Meyer and Mullen get another tailback involved. Personally, I'd like to see Rainey, James, and Demps getting touches on options and flare passes out of the backfield. Anything to spread out Arkansas' defense and get the ball to other playmakers besides Harvin. Two people shouldn't carry a team, not when we've got other talented guys who can help out.
