Why the SEC is different was on display in both the UT/OU and Auburn/KSU games. DEFENSE. Don't leave home without it. Sure Kansas State missed 3 field goals but the bottom line is that when the game mattered they got smothered. Auburn wasn't going to buckle in crunch time on the road or not. Sure, it was a 6 point game with 4 minutes and change left but it didn't matter. Auburn simply ground Kansas State down. Kansas State didn't get close to 100 rushing yards in the game (40 yards). And Tennessee? If it's not for the infrequent big and broken play, a young group of UT defenders (5 true freshmen) gave mighty Oklahoma a good solid punch. There is simply no substitute for speed on defense.
I'm still picking Auburn to win the SEC this year after getting a long look at them last night. Auburn is a matchup nightmare in this league for just about everybody on their schedule. Tons of weapons on both sides of the ball. They actually played QB Jeremy Johnson down the stretch when it was a 10 point game late once the offense was really in a groove under Nick Marshall. What in the world were they doing? You get the feeling Malzahn likes the game within the game. He kept that one more interesting than it needed to be.
Did you see Nick Marshall's pass to Duke Williams to essentially end the game? That was like taking candy from a baby. Sure Kansas State missed fg's but Auburn is such a work in progress on offense. They dropped a bunch of passes early to keep it close.
When I watch the success of guys like Gus Malzahn and Hugh Freeze, I can't help but wonder what kind of success a guy like George Quarles could have if given an opportunity at a head coaching job at the college level. The guy has a Steve Spurrier sense of play calling. I believe he could coach right with the above gentlemen. Before you laugh, go watch his teams at Maryville play and report back to me. Coaching is coaching is coaching. And both Malzahn and Freeze prove it.
BTW, Bryan Fisher of NFL.COM, pulled up an interesting stat last night 'SEC was 2-6 past 10 years in true road games against ranked teams West of the MS coming into tonight.' Tennessee resembles that remark as Tennessee was involved in a few of those @ UCLA and Cal. Although, I'm not quite sure if UCLA was ranked when UT beat them. Fisher said that was the SEC's first win over a top 25 team on the road in non conference west of the Mississippi since 2008 Georgia @ Arizona State.
FEELS LIKE FALL...SURELY SOME GOOD GAMES ARE COMING...RIGHT?
NO-SHOW BEANO WEEKS 4&5
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE: 9-18-14
WHAT WE LEARNED IN WEEK 3
NATION:
LA CAN’T PLAY: USC’s shocking defeat as a double-digit favorite -versus a Boston College team that Pitt handled easier than the 10 point spread indicated- combined with UCLA’s lackluster start has me wondering if LA-LA Land football is all glitz and no hits....
SEC:
MAUCK SPEED: I remember when another guy was the most prominent James Franklin in the SEC. Missouri’s version bounced back from an injury-plagued first season in the SEC to throw for 2429 yards with 19 TDs and only 6 Ints and ran for 510 more and four additional scores while leading the Tigers to an unexpected SEC East Championship. Along the way however the league got introduced to the heir-apparent and latest in a line of successful Tiger QBs coached by Gary Pinkel....
WHAT WE MUST SEE FROM VOLS THE OPEN WEEK:
GET WELL: Miraculously there seemed to be few if any significant injuries of note coming out of what was one of the more physical games in recent memory but I’m guessing strains and contusions are almost epidemic. The Vols desperately need for both Von Pearson and Ethan Wolf to be available for –with apologies to South Carolina- what could be their most challenging road contest of the SEC slate. Despite my gloomy preseason expectations of the Vols chances in Athens the last three games between the two have been decided by 8 pts or less and this one could prove no different if the Vols can have all-hands on deck
...[more]
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Hatfield IX Time: Look at Keith’s guest list for today. He’s flat curb stomping me.
Hatfield's Nine
'A rather pedestrian football weekend awaits fans across the country. Only the Super Bowl rematch qualifies as required viewing.
1. Jameis Winston has some serious growing up to do. Johnny Manziel is mature by comparison.
2. I do think it says something about how little Florida State respects Clemson that Winston is being suspended for a half. Pretty sure he'd be getting some internal discipline if the opponent Saturday was Oklahoma or Alabama.
3. Steve Alford may be in for a tough go of it in year two at UCLA. The recent personnel losses leave the Bruins incredibly short on depth, especially in the backcourt.
4. As the swift actions by Rick Barnes and Kim Anderson in the past ten days show, the heat the NFL is receiving for its half measures regarding violent crime is not being lost on others. Look for coaches to suspend first, ask questions later at the collegiate level going forward.
5. Mississippi State gets its shot to finally break through under Dan Mullen. A win at LSU would change the perception of the Bulldogs immediately.
6. Sports Illustrated can still bring it when they choose to actually focus on things that matter to their core audience. The oral history of KMOX in this week's issue is mandatory reading for anyone who loves sports and radio.
7. The collapse of a team with pitching as good as Oakland's is rare. When a team completely unravels like that, it is usually a product of a paucity of arms.
8. Florida will find out who they are Saturday in Tuscaloosa. If they are in fact the team we saw against Kentucky, they'll have a new coach in 2015.
9. If anyone goes undefeated through the SEC West gauntlet, they should be the National Champion without having to play any further games. I believe the West may be better than the NFC South.
Bonus Track: Marc Broussard is the Cajun Joe Cocker. Nobody gives a live crowd more bang for their buck.
Remember the Tennessee Brew Works Beer Dinner at Crown & Goose on Thursday. Make reservations and I'll see you there.
Show Cause 1-3 today. Gregg Doyel, Cecil Hurt, Josh Pastner, and Chris Burke join us on air.
See you then!
Keith'
For the star gazers, Espn.com's Max Olson reported that Auburn had 49 former 4 or 5 star recruits on their roster last night while Kansas State has 1. Bill Snyder can coach even though he seemingly started coaching when Shug Jordon was at Auburn.
I talked recruiting for 30 solid minutes with Danny Parker of insidetennessee.com. I really like that guy a lot. He flat out brought it strong the entire time! Tennessee is in the process of putting together a great class and it figures to get even better. I like Danny because he's a no bs kind of guy. A great thing in that business! Check him out at insidetennessee.com if you think about it, in the meantime give this as listen and see if you don't find this some high level recruiting conversation (even though I was a part of the piece).
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Speaking of recruiting, my friend Dave Link has looked under the hood in this really interesting piece on why Butch Jones and staff are so successful in luring top players to Tennessee. This is a great read!
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Here's another wonderful article from Link on the love UT is cultivating in places that matter across the state.
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That NFL game last night was uglier than the last couple of weeks for the league. In fact, the Falcons could've played the part of public sentiment while the Bucs were Fidel Goodell. Good thing they are really building up that Thursday Night package. Those games are flat out terrible week in and week out. That Steelers/Ravens game was a complete killing.
You ever wonder why the NFL has so many domestic violence issues versus their American sports counterparts? Could brain injuries be a culprit?
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You know Deion Sanders had to hate seeing his record fall to Devin Hester last night. Hester is 100 years old in NFL years but he's still to be feared. Why kick to that guy? Hester is so instinctive returning kicks. None of my teams have ever had a kick returner like that. In fact, I don't know if anyone this side of Dante Hall and Sanders could be in his conversation. Hester is the man today and the record is his.
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The PC police calling NFL games are really going out of their way not to say 'Redskins'.
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Well, this is a different kind of celebration.
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I do believe Brandon Marshall that people attempt to extort money from these athletes in all leagues. Lots of $$$ out there. Makes sense to me.
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This guy outta get a room with K.
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A Raven gives a Steeler his kidney. Great story.
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Final thought: Who do you cheer for tomorrow when Bama and Florida tangle? Talk to me.
Have a great, safe, and restful weekend.
Tony
