Ups and Downs
hope you didn’t think I was serious last week about not doing this anymore. It is way too fun. Though I am contemplating some changes; more on that below. In football news, the Gators outlasted the Bulldogs, while the Bucs fell to the lowly 49ers.
Caught Looking
The Bucs were caught looking ahead. That’s about all I can come up with for what happened on Sunday. And how about sending Simeon Rice home for missing a meeting? What the hell is that all about? I think he would have made a big difference in stopping the two young signal callers for the 49ers. But we’ll never know because Gruden decided that Sunday was the day to start enforcing the rules.
And then there’s young Simms. Does he deserve another game to try and prove that he’s not useless? Maybe. But TALB would be just as happy to see the man on the street before the next game. To me, the evidence is pretty clear that the kid, despite three years in the system, just doesn’t have it down at this point. Let’s see what Tim Rattay can do. He’s been a starter in this league before. Maybe he can be Griese version 2. Or maybe not. But this season needs to be rescued before it gets away, and the only way to do that is to try everything.
On pace to be the worst, statistically, defense in the history of the NFL the 49ers were ripe for the picking. But the Bucs couldn’t get it done in any phase of the game. Even the defense was porous and allowed the 49ers to capitalize on our mistakes.
Things have to turn around for the lads or the final half of the season will be as disappointing as the first half was elating.
Number Four No More
For all of their bluster and posturing the Georgia Bulldogs looked like they were not ready for what the Gators brought to the game. TTHNBC spent the off week since the debacle against LSU installing a revamped offense that baffled the poor Bulldogs. And it doesn’t help them that no matter how good they are or how bad the Gators are or what is at stake, the Gators just beat the Bulldogs a lot more than they lose. One has to wonder if the Bulldogs are just plain scared of the Gators. It is pretty safe to assume that the Gators are in the Dawgs’ heads.
Listening to Verne and Todd on Saturday one would think that Joe Terezinksi (or whatever) was the second coming of Joe Montana. Even though the kid fumbled about and didn’t have much real control of the offense. Sure he had some flashes of brilliance, but overall he was not very good.
But when push came to shove, Mark Richt took the ball out of Terrahautes’s hands and went conservative. Thus allowing the dominating Gators’ defense to take control in the end game.
The new Gators offense showed just what this team is capable of accomplishing. Next year, after another round of spring drills, the team may get the hang of the spread option. But for now, the new power-I type offense is going to carry this team to their destiny. And if Auburn can manage to defeat the Bulldogs, then that destiny goes through Atlanta.
To that end the next two weeks are important. The Gators will face a resurgent Vanderbilt and the surprising Gamecocks. While the Bulldogs face Auburn on November 12 in their most “loseable” remaining game.
Head Games
It is widely known that in the NFL the game officials are to be treated as “part of the field”. Yet when passes bounce off of them they are still live balls. What is up with that?
Head Games, Part 2
Of the many constants in the Southeastern Conference, one is that Steve Spurrier beats Phil Fulmer. The task was accomplished again this past weekend. The Cocks outlasted the Vols 16-15 to drop the Vols out of the Top-25. In fact, the Gamecocks received one point to the Vols’ goose-egg.
BMOC
Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 10 - In the week’s other Top-25 match-up the VT juggernaut kept rolling over the ACC. With all of the preseason talk about Miami and Florida State, the Hokies have worked their way to the number three spot in the nation, and the inside track to win the ACC.
USC 55, WSU 13 - The Trojans continue their march toward destiny by destroying another Pac-10 foe.
FSU 35, Maryland 27 - Last year the Terapins beat the Noles. This time around the Noles were able to rally to win.
Playoffs?
In one fell swoop, the Buccaneers fell from first in the NFC to fifth in the playoff standings.
Team TALB
Do you love TALB? Do you wish you could help out? Do you want to be known far and wide as a contributor to the greatest football column ever published (on blogax.net)? If so, then I have great news for you. We here at TALB are opening our doors and giving you, oh wise reader, the opportunity to provide content for each week’s installment. Be it game analysis, commentary, or funny stuff for Running Items (more below) we want your input. This is an open invitation. Just send a message to talbfb@gmail.com with your submission. All submissions for a given week must reach HQ by no later than 6 AM that Tuesday. All submitters are also invited to give their $0.02 with regards to the Super Bowl and/or Rose Bowl.
Junkied
The Thunderers are essentially dead in the water. After not catching any breaks throughout the season the team has been gutted and a final starting line-up set. Bench players were released to the waiver wire. This is the last TALB entry on my team for the season. Expect Mayflower trucks to show up at the Thunderers’ offices any day now.
Running Items
WTF?
On the Game Show Network you can find a program called Extreme Dodgeball. Is it the “celebrity” captains that makes this funny? Is it the way the players take the game so seriously? No, it’s the fact that the rules are pretty much the same as set out in the recent Vince Vaughn opus, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Is Patches O’Houlihan in their hall of fame? Is Shatner the commissioner? Where is ESPN8, The Ocho?
Grated Cheese
Brett Favre tossed another five picks as he struggled to get the hapless Packers back on track. It didn’t work.
The Stable
As promised, here is a list of the current topics for Running Items. If you would like to start a new running item, feel free.
WTF? - Strange and unusual happenings. Not just related to football.
Seriously, WTF? - When there are two WTF’s of note.
Breath Of A Salesman - Funny and/or interesting commercials
Oh Ricky - The saga of Ricky Williams
Reverse Watch - Announcers and their penchant for proclaiming ends-around as reverses.
Grated Cheese - The Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre, Mike Sherman; they all suck.
Current Football Wish - What do you want to happen?
Worst. Call. Ever. - Bad officiating
Some People Call Me The Space Cowboy - the saga of Maurice Clarrett
Super Bowl XL - Who’s headed to Motor City?
Rose Bowl - Who is going to go to the mythical college football championship?
Rose Bowl
USC vs. Texas
Can USC be beat? Can the Hokies overtake the Longhorns? Given the way things work in college football rankings, probably not.
Super Bowl XL
Colts against Giants
Right now the Colts look like the team to beat for all the marbles. And the Giants are the team playing the best in the NFC, for whatever that is worth.
Next Week: The Bucs and their future, the next test for the Gators, and a look ahead to postseason play.
