Week 9 Random Thoughts

If you haven't heard - Decker is done for the season, possibly returning in the Bowl Game. Obviously, this sucks because he's great...but really, with where this team currently sits, it isn't a huge deal. We're not winning the B10 this year, we're not going to a big bowl game (probably), and not fighting for a Nat'l title. The changing of the guard started last week with the #5 drive against the scrubs from OHIOST, and this just continues the trend. We need to honestly treat these next 4 or 5 games as a stepping stone into what hopefully will be a bigger and better 2010.

Let #5 play a lot at QB, let's see what our WR core will look like for next season, keep plugging in RB's and OLman to see who can play and who can't. Now I'm not saying throw the next 4 games and don't try and win, but honestly I really think these changes might give us the best chance to win. Not that having ED out is a good thing, but we really need to see what these other guys (TS, Green, HAYO, McKnight, Allen) can do. There is plenty of talent there, so now #5 and probably a little touch of AWEB, should be able to utilize it and spread the ball around.

I'm still feeling surprisingly good about this team and about our chances this week. 4-4 is right where we expected them to be. I know the offense has struggled, to put it nicely, but we just got crushed against 2 of the 10 best defenses in the nation...is this really a shock or a reason to start the fire Brewster chatter. I too thought the team would be playing better at this point in the regime and in the season, but we still have 1/3 of it left and plenty of time and opportunity to make this a nice season. 7-5 would be very solid, actually this was the ceiling I predicted at the start of the year. 6-6 not great, but a bowl game and holding the line from last year. Let's win some NOV games and finish strong. Brew is here for another 2 years, so the fire the coach talk is ridiculous. Tony Dungy is not going to coach this team - get over it.

Sparty comes in on Saturday and they have to be mentally drained. They should have won on Saturday, and now they are ready for a bad hangover effect. Remember when we should have beat MICH, the next week we forgot to show up against Sparty and got crushed at home when we were clearly a better team. I've seen it before, and I think that's what we'll be in for this weekend. Gophs will be jacked - weather sounds extra shitty - #5 is going to see plenty of PT...= GOPHER win.

Wow, didn't plan on this being a Gopher hope session...here's the other crap on my mind:

- Nebraska lost 9-7 at home against the Clones. What...the...F*ck??? Well, when you fumble 5 times and throw 3 picks you probably were lucky to be within 2. They just lost back to back games in Lincoln against TT and ISU. First time ISU has gotten them since 1977...wow. Pelini may be going from savior to goat in the matter of one month.

- MICH is back....er, nope, guess not. 1-3 in conference, at least 2 or 3 likely losses still remain, looks like 7-5 or 6-6 to me. Even with MICH talent you can't turn it around in 2 years. How about the PSU D!?! I love Clark as their QB, but that D is carrying the squad right now...why the hell didn't they do that against IOWA!?!?! They are allowing 8.9 ppg...the problem is that if/when they beat OHIOST the door will be wide open for IOWA. So we need to get Iowa 2 losses...Buckeyes can get them once, then the rodents shock the world on NOV 21! That might be the sweetest victory I will have ever witnessed in my lifetime if it comes to fruition.

How much does Gene Chizik suck?
So the guy struggles mightily at ISU, then gets the job at AUB. They start 5-0 with a dynamite offense and beat a lot of teams they were expected to beat. Then they lose their next 3 and give up 32 ppg in the defensive minded SEC. Meanwhile, his replacement Paul Rhodes steps in and has ISU at 5-3 (2-2) and has a shot at a B12 North title...with that roster! Kind of makes you wonder if the great Chizik might not have been in over his head at ISU much less at AUB where he is heading for a 6-6 season and a 2-6 conference run. I'm not saying he won't eventually do better, but I really don't think he's worth a crap as a coach, and I love seeing him struggle.

Anybody feeling like ORE is going to run over USC this weekend since USC's D has given up 27 and 36 the last 2 times out? I hope not...don't bet against Carroll or the USC defense in a big game. Just a word of warning before you turn in picks for the week. BTW - USC offense might score 40 this weekend as well.

Best Gig in the World
Mark Blount. Wolves traded to get him back this year. He's going to make $8M and he's been told not to show up...ever. He's home in Miami with no intention of coming into MPLS for any games this season. He has no value so he won't accept any type of buyout, so he's making $8M in the retarded NBA, which includes all guaranteed contracts, for doing as much as I will this winter. Nice.

Finally - the last rant of the day. NFL vs. NCAA Football. Obviously, you guys know my interest and loyalty lies about 85-15 with NCAA, but I want to tell you why. So huge game this week for the Purple at Pitt. Great game, they lose, and it really doesn't matter at all. We're 6-1 with 9 to play and this one loss is basically meaningless. There are no must win "big" games until DEC when it becomes an elimination tourney. The first 3 months are just setting you up to be in it or not in it. In the NCAA it's game on from day 1. VT-ALA week 1, NC elimination game. Every single week is so critical to the end result of your season, everything is magnified x10 vs. the average NFL week 7 game. I don't hate the NFL, I just love NCAA Football that much more. When every week can literally make or break your season, and there are always 2-3 games per week that will determine who the champions are...either a conference champ or Nat'l Champ. Clearly, I think the playoff system edge goes to the NFL, but as far as week in week out drama and watchability I choose NCAA Football 10 times out of 10.