Teams to watch in 06

[Irish]

Personally I think Mich St and Arkansas might be two teams that have more talent then people think.Also I think the USF Bulls will do a little damage in the big easy, they have really solid LB's and WR but question at QB. Colorado should be interesting because of Hawkins offense, but yet to be seen if he has the players to play with the beef in his league, this ain't the WAC anymore. I just can't wait for football to start back up... thank god for the world cup or I would be capping darts till season begins.

Cheers
Irish

 

[thom24ad]

Personally I think Mich St and Arkansas might be two teams that have more talent then people think.Also I think the USF Bulls will do a little damage in the big easy, they have really solid LB's and WR but question at QB. Colorado should be interesting because of Hawkins offense, but yet to be seen if he has the players to play with the beef in his league, this ain't the WAC anymore. I just can't wait for football to start back up... thank god for the world cup or I would be capping darts till season begins.

Cheers
Irish

I haven't been able to buy into MSU just yet, but could it be possible that SC drops the first game of the season to ARK :scared
I gotta a feeling on that one...well maybe not a loss for SC but an ARK cover...I hope they make that a night game

 

[Marra]

I pick Nebraska as my sleeper. I had them at +11 in the bowl game against Michigan and they won outright.

Callahan can coach. A lot of people seem to not realize that. After he took the Raiders to the Super Bowl, he was rumored to go many places, including Notre Dame. Then, he got in a fight with his lazy ballplayers and has had a tarnished image ever since it seems.

Looking at Phil Steele's book, which I do every year, Nebraska is loaded with highly touted recruits on both sides. Zac Taylor looks to fit the system perfectly (a tad bit better than Joe Dailey, who could be the most inaccurate passer in the NCAA)...and the defense looks improve with experience and some top recruits.

I am not saying they are going to win the whole thing, but I can see them finishing top 10.

 

[thom24ad]

The Alamo Bowl...I would say Mich lost that rather than Neb won it

 

[AR182]

Personally I think Mich St and Arkansas might be two teams that have more talent then people think.Also I think the USF Bulls will do a little damage in the big easy, they have really solid LB's and WR but question at QB. Colorado should be interesting because of Hawkins offense, but yet to be seen if he has the players to play with the beef in his league, this ain't the WAC anymore. I just can't wait for football to start back up... thank god for the world cup or I would be capping darts till season begins.

Cheers
Irish

irish...

it's good to seei that you are getting ready for football season...

fwiw, ark. is also phil steele's sleeper team.

 

[Marra]

The Alamo Bowl...I would say Mich lost that rather than Neb won it

Nebraska could't stop the run in that gamel, and Nebraska just dominated field position thank to 8 punts for 412 yards...that was the difference.

Mich was only minus 1 in turnovers, not like they were minus 5 indicating they just threw the game away. Nebraska was better than them that day.

 

[thom24ad]

Nebraska could't stop the run in that gamel, and Nebraska just dominated field position thank to 8 punts for 412 yards...that was the difference.

Mich was only minus 1 in turnovers, not like they were minus 5 indicating they just threw the game away. Nebraska was better than them that day.

gimme a break...Mich blew a double-digit lead with 11 minutes to go along with giving up two TDs within four minutes of each other...Mich gave that game away at the end...

And Neb will be 8-4 maybe 9-3 which then they could possibly crack the top 15...there are some tough teams on this years schedule...Neb road games are no walk in the park

 

[Marra]

gimme a break...Mich blew a double-digit lead with 11 minutes to go along with giving up two TDs within four minutes of each other...Mich gave that game away at the end...

And Neb will be 8-4 maybe 9-3 which then they could possibly crack the top 15...there are some tough teams on this years schedule...Neb road games are no walk in the park

11 minutes to go is an eternity in college football, what does that have to do with it?

Michigan giving up two TD's within four minutes of each other is "lucky" for Nebraska and "unlucky" for the Wolverines? Come on. That is why they play the game...good teams DON'T DO THAT.

Like I said, there are some games where a team just blows it, and it was clear they were the better team (they turn the ball over 4 times, including 2 for TD's) but this was not one of those times.

 

[thom24ad]

I'm sorry but Mich should have been able to hold off Neb for the win up 11 points with that much time left...Giving up the two scores in that amount time is where they blew it...not to mention they also allowed a two-point conversion...all they had to do was keep possession...I'll just say we'll agree is disagree and leave it at that...

 

[Dice34]

Mich will be a team to watch this year, coming off a sub par season....new D coordinator, 8 starters back on D(yes they were avg. last year but improved from the year before) all 4 of their regular season losses by a total of 17 points........ Nothing major was lost on the "O" side of the ball....a full stable of RB's back........the only problem is the 3 away games they have slated against Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio state

 

[gjn23]

potential national title longshot contenders (from a west coast perspective):

cal

michigan

potential sleepers to win the pac-10 and make it to the rose bowl(after sc-cal-asu who should be 1-2-3 in pre-season predictions): stanford/arizona

 

[Irish]

Also I would think this year holds a lot for Oregon, those guys have some work to do to replace some players but I think they habe the player at QB to make some big things happen.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Marra]

Also I would think this year holds a lot for Oregon, those guys have some work to do to replace some players but I think they habe the player at QB to make some big things happen.

Cheers
Irish

I have to think Dixon is going to be a step down from a QB that might start for the NY Jets...

 

[Irish]

Clemens was about a 3 year stater and didn't look to good until the offensice Co from BYU went over to Oregon. Dixon a freshman has the same type speed and ability as clemens but Dixon throws a much nicer deep ball but doesn't have the arm strength that Clemens. That is why Leaf was brought in and split time with Dixon last season, but Dixon with a year in the system and his ability to scramble should be huge in the PAc-10. I personally think Clemens was a great QB and a warrior but Dixon is not that far off and given his past years experience I look to see how he plays this up coming season.

Cheers
Irish

 

[Marra]

Doesnt it seem like Crowton's system can be successful for only about 3 years before the conference (or league) gets used to it.

When he was with the Bears, he basically brought that WR bubble screen back into vogue and had the NFL off guard for about half the season...then the defensive coordinators caught up with him. It seems like the same thing at BYU...

Oregon's Oline and WR look a little shaky, but Stewart the RB should take a big step forward and show why he was the #1 RB recruit in the country 2 years ago.

 

[bgold13]

My 2 sleepers
CAL- not a sleeper per say.. but I think they will be playing in glendale,az for the national title

Nevada- loaded offense, should win their conf

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

Personally I think Mich St and Arkansas might be two teams that have more talent then people think.
Irish

I hope you are correct about msu...

 

[DeadPrez]

California will be a team to reckon with. Huge hurdle right off the bat at Tennessee. That game will be a showcase for both teams.

Arkansas will be a tough out for USC

 

[Irish]

Dr
There are two questions when I look at the Spartans and that is O-line and D-line. Now saying that the Spartans have a nice run stopper in Ryan and they have a lot of talent and speed at LB but I think they will struggle to get pressure from their ends.Long and Kershaw have to step up to the plate and both of them standing at 6'4 and having speed in the 4'6 area have the capability to look like the bookends for NC St last season if they develop. Bigger concern is on the O-line. With the talent returning at the skill positions and having a solid leader like Stanton back if the o-line opens up running lanes and gives passing time there is no reason that State can't be a force this year. After saying all that, one of the best reason I enjoy college football is watching teams come together. A team with great talent (Louisville) if they lack passion don't make it happen. You just never know what these teams are going to do out of the gate. But IMO over the left side of the Spartans line they have the ability to make it happen. Now having the ability and having the follow through are two different things. I have the ability NOT to have a Guinness for breakfast..... but I just don't have the follow through, bottoms up!

Cheers
Irish