Morning Wrap: Titans vs. Jets--The Brawl for Last Place (But What An Ending!)

((ht: cbssports.com))

So there weren't exactly a whole lot of highlights late Sunday afternoon when the putrid New York Jets took on the hapless Tennessee Titans.

Outside of the last play of the game, a wild attempt at re-creating the Music City Miracle, perhaps the best video of the game came here.

Jets QB Geno Smith and a slew of Jets lineman exchange some words. One of them slaps Smith's helmet, bringing his teammates out onto the field.

Some more words were exchanged. And that's when the punches flew.

Video from CBSSports.com:

But, just as wild was the end of the game as the Titans- in the first-ever NFL game to finish 16-11 got nine yards away from another Music City Miracle...

Charlie Whitehurst to Dexter McCluster- who lateraled back to Nate Washington. He then found Whitehurst again across the field, who eventually lateraled to a streaking Delanie Walker.

Walker was that close...
((HT: NJ.com/Charles Curtis' Vine))

The New York Jets are Stupid

You know, we've grown weary over the past couple of seasons being bombarded with non-stop, blow-by-blow, stupid mistake-by-stupid mistake coverage of the hapless New York Jets.

And every time we think the ESPN and NBC Sports of the world are going to finally figure out nobody outside New York likes or cares about the ineptitude of the Jets, we get this.

Saturday night during the teams exhibition game with the New York Giants, which the Jets actually  won, head coach Rex Ryan made another in his long list of bizarre coaching decisions.

Inexplicably, Ryan put the man most think would be the starting QB for the team, Mark Sanchez (he of the butt fumble), back in the exhibition game in the 4th quarter with the backups instead of 3rd teamer Matt Simms.

And almost immediately, Sanchez got hurt. He was hit by the Giants Marvin Austin and came off the field with what appeared to be a pretty significant shoulder injury.

Granted, there was no guarantee that Sanchez would be the starter when the season begins, the massive media throng covering the team has been hoping rookie QB Geno Smith would get the nod. But Smith played like a green rookie throwing 3 INT's during the game and pulling a Dan Orlovsky by stepping out of his own end zone trying to complete a pass.

Anyway....

As dumb as the Ryan move was, it got worse when he got kinda defensive about it at his press conference:

Collin Klein Heisman Front Runner? Geno Smith's Stock Going Down. K-State Crushes WVU 55-14

Geno Smith’s Heisman Trophy stock is dropping.  Collin Klein’s stock is soaring to front runner status for the stiff-arm pose.

Klein and his Kansas State Wildcats dominated West Virginia at Morgantown 55-14 and the game didn’t seem that close.

Klein was damn near perfect, 19-21 passing for a career high 323 yards, ran for four touchdowns and threw for 3 touchdowns.

The K-State quarterback clearly won the head to head battle with former Heisman front runner Geno Smith who threw for 143 yards and one touchdown however tossed his first two interceptions of the season.

"He doesn’t do anything wrong.” West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen said. He is the same guy we saw on film. He is exactly the same guy we thought he would be.” 

Which is a damn good football player and Kansas State is exactly who WVU thought they were, a BCS Championship Game contender.

Here’s the highlights from a stunned Morgantown, WV (Thanks Fox Sports)

 

K-State has put themselves in the conversation with Alabama and Oregon as the top three contenders for the BCS National Championship Game.

The Wildcats own three Big 12 Conference wins on the road, at Oklahoma, at Iowa State (and the Cyclones aren’t bad either.) and now a domination of West Virginia. 

The Wildcats final five games are first a pair of home games vs Texas Tech and Oklahoma State then road trips to TCU and then to Waco, Texas to play the Baylor Bears before finishing the season hosting Texas at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.  It’s just seems very odd for K-State and Texas to finish the season (ramifications of realignment.)

I’m just wondering how many are now jumping on the K-State bandwagon.  I’m there now.

Geno Smith Finds Out Texas Tech's Defense Is For Real. Tubs Gets Red Raiders Fired Up With Locker Speech

The fact that Texas Tech had one of the best defenses in the country was a bit unbelievable but Saturday the Red Raiders shutdown one of the most potent offenses in the country plus the Heisman Trophy front runner.  We believe now, it’s proven.

The Red Raider defense frustrated West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith who finished 29 of 55 passing for 275 yards and one touchdown.  Far below the numbers Smith has been putting up this season.

West Virginia’s offense did put up 406 yards of total offense but no WVU running back had 100 yards and the Mountaineer receivers were held to double digits in yards. 

Not to mention a WVU offense used to scoring at will only totaled 14 points Saturday afternoon in Lubbock.

Texas Tech safety D.J. Johnson, who had six tackles against West Virginia, explains the Red Raider game plan against the Mountaineers. (Thanks techathletics)

 

“We just didn't execute offensively.” West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen said. “We didn't finish blocks in the run game. We didn't throw and catch like we normally throw and catch. We obviously didn't finish drives very well. So it was a poor performance offensively.”

Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege looked more like the front runner for the Heisman Trophy.  Doege was 32 of 42 passing for a career high 499 yards and tied a career high with six touchdowns. 

“The success that he [Doege] had today, I think a lot of people across the country saw it because everybody matches quarterback when's you watch them on television, and they've [West Virginia, Geno Smith] got a great quarterback.” Texas Tech head coach Tom Tuberville said. “That kid is a player. I thought Seth obviously did a heck of a job in just running our offense. Running the ball, taking the screens when they gave it to him, throwing the ball deep and making big plays.”

Here’s the highlights including Tubs in the locker room pre and post game. (Thanks techathletics)

Geno Smith Pads Heisman Stats Against Texas, Mountaineers Defeat 'Horns 48-45

Hello Big 12, West Virginia has arrived.

When you beat Texas in Austin and you draw a Darryl K. Royal/Texas Memorial Stadium record of 101,851fans you are the toast of the 12.

"I want to congratulate West Virginia, they've got a very fine football team," Texas head coach Mack Brown said.

Yes coach Brown WVU is.

Geno Smith was his usual self, damn good.  Smith 25 of 35 passing for 268 yards and three touchdowns. 

“You look at what he did, there weren’t a lot of times where we weren’t draped all over the guy that he was trying to throw the football to.” Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “When the play was there to be made, they made it. And obviously, the crucial situations we talked about were going to be the difference in the game. That’s when they want the ball in his hands. And he was an immense challenge for us to play against.”

Here’s WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen’s comments. (Thanks MountaineerTV)

 

Andrew Buie had a career day against the ‘Horns.  Buie ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns including the 5 yard touchdown run with 1:18 left to put the dagger in the heart of the Longhorns.

Here’s a game report from Austin, TX (Thanks WDTV)

 

West Virginia Outlasts Baylor In Morgantown, Creates Both Records And Headaches

((HT: KWTX-TV, Waco))

Let's face it...

The whole experience reminded us of one of two things...

Either video games or Arena Football... both apply all over the place...

133 points, 19 touchdowns and absolutely no defense whatsoever...

Geno Smith went 45-for-51 for 656 yards and 8TD's while Nick Florence went 29-for-47 for 581 yards and 5 TD's.

The game also set a record for the most points scored involving a team ranked in The Associated Press poll. The previous mark of 124 was set in 1980 when No. 12 Oklahoma beat Colorado 82-42. West Virginia picked up a school-record 807 yards, and the teams combined for 1,507 yards of offense and 67 first downs. Six receivers had at least 100 yards receiving.

Shall we keep going...???

The Bears' Terrance Williams set a Big 12 record with 314 yards receiving. The old mark was by West Virginia's Stedman Bailey, who had 303 yards and a school-record five TDs.

And the only reason Bailey didn't keep it in the first place was that Williams got the last possession...

The 19 touchdowns tied a D1 record from 2007 when Navy beat North Texas 74-62. That game was the old record for points in a regulation game at 136.

Baylor also tied a D1 mark for the most points scored by a losing team...

Got all that...???

Ricardo Lecompte tries to condense the whole story to 2:10


"Not every Big 12 game is like this," West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen said in the post-game presser.

Whaddya mean it's not...???

The Dirty Dozen and Bottom of the Barrel: Accept no Replacements

Never accept anything but the best. Or in the case of the NFL, why worry about quality if you can save a few bucks.

As Mick once said, "You can't always get what you want":



But enough about the pros, we talk about the pure game, College Football. Hey, stop laughing!

There are changes afoot. Some teams are proving to not be quite as good as we once thought. But others seem to be better.

This week, the major meets prisoner #11. Are you listening Notre Dame?



So, we went 12-1 last week. How 'bout them apples? Makes us 37-6 on the season. Maybe now you'll be attention.

With that in mind, we quote the legendary Casey Kasem and say "It's on with the Countdown!"

THE DIRTY DOZEN:

1) Alabama 4-0. Okay, okay, I don't want death threats from people in Alabama. They have NO sense of humor regrading their football. None. Which explains Saban. Uh...anyway...As of this moment, they are considered College Football's best. Enjoy the ride. (This Week: vs. Ole Miss Our Pick: Alabama 31, Miss St. 10)

2)Florida State 4-0. Great win for the 'Criminoles--ooh, sorry, hard to escape your past. But seriously...and no, don't call me Shirley, they've proven to be pretty darn good. Barring an implosion, they should run the ACC table. Oh...sorry, that never happens. (This Week: at S.Florida. Our Pick: FSU 31, USF 13)

3) Oregon 4-0. Sorry, still don't buy them as some sort of defensive juggernaut. And until they are, they won't be #1 in our poll. Unless of course the teams ahead of them keep losing. (This Week: at Washington St. Our Pick: Oregon 41, Wash. St. 31)

4) LSU 4-0. Uh...The Lovely Bride won't like this, but they don't appear worthy of where we ranked them previously. To say they looked awful on offense vs. Auburn would be an understatement. But they did win, so there is that. (This Week: vs. Towson St. Our Pick: LSU 47, Towson 3)

5) Georgia 4-0. Now we'll get to see if they are worthy of the lofty status. All the suspended guys are back and the games get at least a little tougher. That being said, they just killed a not-as-awful Vandy team last week. (This Week: vs. Tennessee. Our Pick: Georgia 37, Tennessee 21)

6) South Carolina 4-0. Well, Connor Shaw made me eat my words, he was pretty damn impressive last week as the 'Cocks creamed the Missouri Tigers. (yeah, I know, juvenile) Everything is being geared towards the Georgia game next week. (This Week: at Kentucky. Our Pick: S.Carolina 38, Kentucky 13)

7) West Virginia 3-0. They didn't exactly crush Maryland, who showed signs of life--for once. But Geno Smith continues to be the man and our pick for the Heisman. Unless they lose, which we suppose, could happen. (This Week: at Baylor. Our Pick: West Virginia 51, Baylor 48)

8) Stanford 3-0. Long live the tree. They got a week off after brushing aside USC, which is a good thing. No crazy good stars here, just a good, well coached team. But we don't see them finishing in the 12, but then again, we've been known to be wrong. (This Week: at Washington. Our Pick: Stanford 31, Washington 27)

9) Kansas State 4-0. They are getting lots of national love for beating an overrated Oklahoma team. Which doesn't discount the fact they beat them in Norman. But still. Colin Klein is a great running QB and the team is solid and deep. And as long as Bill Snyder coaches....(This Week: BYE)

10) Florida 4-0. Yes, that's right, they are back. Sort of. They've played well enough to win, but outside of Kentucky, they haven't blown anyone away either. This may soon change as the schedule gets tougher. Much tougher. (This Week: BYE)

11) Notre Dame 4-0. We aren't sure we've ever had the Irish in the Dozen. Congratulations Notre Dame, you may become relevant again. Your defense seems to be top notch (thanks Manti Te'o). But you better pick it up on offense or it won't last. (This Week: BYE)

12) USC 3-1. Yes, we're putting a one loss team in here. The other alleged undefeated mega-powers are less than convincing, they are just kings of cupcakes. USC will be tough as long as Matt Barkley stays healthy and Coach Kiffykins head doesn't explode. (This Week: BYE)

THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL:

Oh Colorado, you tempt us so. We don't like to move teams out of here unless they truly earn it and since you won this past week, But you did beat the fighting Mike Leach's in a nail biter, so you can now leave the island.

5) Kentucky 1-3. Yes, we know, they've won a game. But it was against Kent State. They haven't been competitive against anyone else. Pity poor Joker Phillips. We love the idea of a coach named Joker, but this Joker may soon be pulled from the deck. (This Week: vs. S.Carolina. Our Pick: see #6)

4) Arkansas 1-3. Haha! Just to prove we aren't total SEC homers, here's 2 teams in the bottom five. And they appear to deserve the honor. If you can't run and can't stop anyone, you can't win. Think about that one John L. Smith. (This Week: at Texas A&M. Our Pick: TAMU 34, Arkansas 24)

3) Idaho 0-4. Oh, poor Idaho. They had a chance to beat Wyoming. And yet they didn't. Which is why they are here. You know, if you are being outscored by 20 pts a game, you probably won't win much. And that is Idaho in a nutshell. (This Week: at North Carolina. Our Pick: UNC 40, Idaho 10)

2) Memphis 0-4. You know your team sucks when Duke blows you out. And that is what happened to the toothless Tigers. And their best RB just left the team. Wah! Wah! Wah!. There's always basketball season on the horizon. (This Week: Bye 41, Memphis 3)

1) UMass 0-4. Congrats to the Minutemen. They've reached double figures in scoring the last two weeks. But they've been out scored 90-29 in those two games. Which is why you land in polls like this. So....(This Week: vs. Ohio. Our Pick: Ohio 90, UMass 29)

And so wraps up Week #4. After this week it gets serious, with several top teams playing each other. And the cupcakes playing each other too.

Geno Smith, Damn Good QB, West Virginia Crushes James Madison 42-12

Those of us in the OSG HQ believe West Virginia’s Geno Smith is a damn good quarterback.

Saturday in WVU’s 42-12 win over James Madison Smith threw completed 34 of 39 passes for 411 yards and five touchdowns.  Oh by the way Smith also became the Mountaineers all time leading passer in the process.

"It was the second week in a row that Geno played really good," WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen said.

Here’s the Geno Smith highlight video from FedEx Field (Yes they played this game at the home of the Washington Redskins) and a full report.  (Thanks WVU Sports Buzz)