NFL Week 2 - Blowout KC, Romo Media Frenzy

A little late but better late than never.  Just a few quick observations for the week.

KC Goes South
I'll start with Kansas City.  Some NFL pundits predicted that the Chiefs would take a step back after winning ten games and the AFC West.  I don't think anyone saw the 0-2 start by blow outs.  The aggregate score in the losses is 89-10. 

It's only two games but it appears the wheels already fell of the season for the Chiefs.  I can understand getting routed in one game.  Bad days happen.  Total melt downs occur.  Everything goes right for the other team while you day goes to garbage. 

Two games though are inexcusable.  These are professional players and coaching staffs.  There is no excuse to lose games like this.  Two or more losses like this and I don't see how Todd Haley survives. 

Romo Media Flip Flop
Last week after the NY Jet debacle, the national media was all over Tony Romo.  This week after the 49ers OT win, the media were singing his praises.  He was skewered over an open flame for his fumble and interception that lead to the loss.  In week two, he went out with an injury and came back to lead the Cowboys to victory.  After having no heart all of a sudden the media sang about how tough and how much he respect he had for playing hurt. 

Listen, I know you are paid for your opinions but stick to your guns and don't flip flop like a politician.  The Romo praising was stomach turning coming from the same media personality who flamed him the previous week.  Add to the fact that this is only one game.  What if Romo blows another game or two?  They are probably going back to bashing...then praising when he does well again.

I'll stick to my guns.  Tony Romo isn't a big game quarterback.  He wins occasionally but does enough boneheaded moves in key games to not elevate to the level of Mannings, Brady and Brees.  He's a second tier level of quarterbacks.

Message Sent and Ignored
Baltimore, what was that?  Nothing is worse than dropping a game to a struggling team right after administering a beat down of your heated rival.  The Ravens clobbered the Steelers in opening week.  Pundits claimed that the Ravens sent a message to the Steelers and the rest of the league.  Evidently the Steelers heard and laughed.  They recovered nicely in shutting out the Seahawks. 

After week one, the Ravens were riding high and the Steelers written off.  Now after week two, we are back to square one and even at 1-1.  That goes to show how ridiculous trying to take one game and expand it toward the season.  One game doesn't send a message.  At least it mutes the message when the Ravens failed to back it up on the second week.

Line of the Week
28 of 46 passing for 432 and 1 TD - Cam Newton.  I awarded it to Newton not because he did it this week.  I did it because it's the second week in a row he threw for over 400 yards.  Some scouts and media doubted Newton's ability to stay in the pocket and play out of the pro set.  So far so good as he proves his doubters wrong so far.  Let's see how he does the rest of the season.  I just might be enjoyable.

JaMarcus Russell Player of the Week
Luke McCown.  He was handed the starting job up the release of David Garrard.  McCown, in his second start of the season, lost the starting job.  He was yanked from the game against the Jets in the 4th quarter.  He managed four interceptions and gave way to rookie Blaine Gabbert.

Goat of the Week
The Chicago Bears offensive line.  Jay Cutler is on track to get sacked 88 times or something like that.

Houston Cougar Game Day 4 vs. Georgia St.

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 Sept. 24, 2011

7:00 p.m.

Robertson Stadium
University of Houston Campus
First meeting between teams 
TV: CSS
Radio: 790 AM (Houston)

Coming of the largest come from behind win in Houston Cougar history, the Coogs host Georgia St. Panthers for the second home game of the year.  GSU plays in the NCAA Football Championship division.  They began play in 2010.  


This is the type of the game most schools schedule for the first game of the season.  A sort of real time scrimmage/tune up before the season starts.  UH opened up with UCLA, North Texas and LA Tech.  

Georgia St. started off the season with a win against Clark Atlanta 41-7.  The Panthers have lost their next two games against Old Dominion (40-17) and Jacksonville St. (37-21).  Georgia St. is lead by head coach Bill Curry.


The game should be a stat padding outing for Case Keenum and Company.  I seriously doubt Georgia St. gives the Coogs much of a game but then again I thought the same about North Texas.  


Link dump:

UH Official Home Game Day Central

UH Official Game Notes

Weekly Press Conference Quotes

Sam Kahn's UH Blog - A Glance at Georgia St.

Case Keenum Win's C-USA Player of the Week

Houston 35 LA Tech 34 - Cougar Heartache Turns to Bulldog Heartbreak

The Cougars started off like I feared they would.  Actually they started off much slower than I feared.  For two quarters and the majority of a third, Houston looked like they would rather be anywhere but Ruston, LA playing LA Tech.  The Bulldogs did everything right and the Coogs arrived with five minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

As I stated in the Game Day 3 entry, the Coogs could ill afford to fall behind and hope to turn on the switch.  Despite my thinking, they did both falling behind 34-7 and turning on a switch to win 35-34.

The two slow starts against North Texas and LA Tech are baffling.  The defense was pushed around early in both contests and the offense misfired on almost every possession.

Houston's first eleven possessions went: punt, fumble, punt, punt, interception, punt, TD, punt, end of half, punt, interception.  The results showed on the scoreboard 34-7.

The defense was just as pathetic.  The Bulldogs scored on 6 of 11 possessions: 2 FGs and 4 TDs.  The fortunate thing is the defense did make a few stops or else the game would probably been out of reach.

While the Coogs made as many mistakes and misfires, they did atone for it all in the last 20 minutes of the game.  Dubbed the Cardiac Coogs by the UH faithful, they stunned the home crowd.  The offense scored the necessary 28 points for a one point lead.  The defense forced ended the Bulldog dominance while getting key stops and turnovers.  The Mad Dogs intercepted one pass, recovered a fumble, made the 'dogs punt twice and got the ball back on downs.

The Cougars overcame disaster and staged the biggest come from behind victory in school history.

The question becomes why did they set such a hole for themselves.  The came out fired up against UCLA and a rowdy home crowd.  They never trailed in that game.  Against North Texas and LA Tech, they trailed early.  Is it a lack of motivation on the players part?  Is it coaching?  Do the coaches fail to motivate and game plan?  Whatever the problem, the Cougars need to clean it up.  With conference play and tougher opponents coming up, such play will lead to a loss or two.  While not saying it publicly, the Coogs goal is to run the table and up in best bowl game possible.

For more stats than you can imagine: UH vs LA Tech Game Book

Houston Cougar Game Day 3 vs. Louisana Tech

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 Sept. 17, 2011

6:00 p.m. Central

Joe Aillet Stadium

Ruston, LA

TV: ESPN3.com

Radio: 790 AM (Houston)

Houston lead series 3-2

Last meeting: LA Tech 19 @ Houston 7 in 1995

Houston Game 3 Notes

Louisiana Tech Game 3 Notes

Houston Cougar Weekly Press Conference

Houston Chronicle: Familiar Faces On Sidelines This Weekend

The Houston Cougars play their third game of the year and second in a row on the road at Louisiana Tech.  Houston held off UCLA 38-34 in the first game and over came a slow start to destroy North Texas 48-24 in the next game.

Houston probably looks to improve on a few things against the Bulldogs.  UH struggled defensively against UCLA's big tight end and also played a sluggish first half against UNT.  LA Tech is a better team than UNT and if the Coogs come out sluggish, they could easily find themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard when the final whistle blows.  

The Cougars need to put together a solid four quarters of football for  a couple of reasons.  First, they can ill fall behind and hope to turn on a switch.  Sometimes that switch isn't so easy to flip against a stronger opponent.  Case Keenum needs to hit his WRs early and often.  Establishing the run will only help the vertical game.  Defensively, the Coogs need to show they can consistently stop any team.  UCLA passed the ball down field at will.  UNT put together two quality drives to end the first half. 

Georgia St. will be the final tune up before conference play opens.  However the Coogs need a strong effort all around against LA Tech before dismantling Georgia St. in a sacrificial lamb game.

Houston 48 North Texas 23 - Coogs Are Unwelcomed Guest

The game started off slowly for the Houston Cougars. North Texas, electrified by the home crowd in the inaugural game of Apogee Stadium, put up a challenge to the Cougars.  Whether it was the crowd, a fired up Mean Green team, a lackadaisical Coog team or a combination, North Texas ran tough for a half.

North Texas took the opening kick off 55 yards and lined up for what looked like an inspires start.  The euphoria didn't last long as Houston's D.J. Hayden intercepted a pass from quarterback Derek  Thompson.  The Coogs returned the favor a few plays later.  The Mean Green defense sacked and stripped the ball from UH star quarterback Case Keenum.  UNT wasted no time in converting the turnover into a 7-0 lead and keeping the crowd pumped.

The Cougars looked like the were going to blow the game wide open after scoring on three successive drives and taking a 17-7 lead into the 2nd quarter.  North Texas opened the 2nd quarter with the ball.  They drove the ball efficiently and moved to 17-14.  The Cougar defense struggled to solve the Mean Green defense.  The drive took 13 plays, 79 yards and 6:59 off the clock.

Keenum and the offense did the defense no favors by only holding onto the ball for five plays and under two minutes.  The Coogs failed on a 4th and 4 conversion and continued to let UNT hang around.  UNT took advantage of the stalled drive.  The Coog defense though held and UNT settled for a FG and a 17 all tie.

Houston squeezed out a field goal for a 20-17 halftime lead.

Then the Cougars decided to play some football.  The Coogs scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half.  The score went from 20-17 to 41-17 in a flash.  It was the knock out blow to the Mean Green and the enthusiastic crowd.  The few thousand Cougar fans in the stands and the thousands others at home could breath a sign of relief.

In the end, it was Cougar speed, size and talent that just overpowered and struggling team.  Emotions only sustained the Mean Green for a half.  Sometimes emotion and heart enough.  But on this night, once the Coogs went to work, it was all over for UNT.



For the night, the Cougar offense rumbled for 127 yards rushing and 563 yards passing.  Keenum finished 26 of 41 for a whopping 458 yards and five TDs.  WR Patrick Edwards scorched the UNT secondary for 187 yards on 8 catches and a TD.  Edward earned C-USA Player of the Week for his efforts.  WR Justin Johnson contributed 87 yards and two TDs.

For the nitty gritty details of the game see Houston vs. North Texas Game Book.

NFL Week 1 - 9/11 Remembered

To say that the opening remembrance ceremony of 9/11 in the NFL was emotional is a vast understatement.  When the Texans, my home team, introduced the NYFD as honorary captains on the field I thought that was about it.  The firefighters received a nice standing ovation.

Then came Robert De Niro on screen and his introduction.  Taps was played and followed by a moment of silence.  As soon as taps started, I felt the eyes water.  The screen showed all the stadium crowds for the noon opener.  The moment of silence was stunning.  It was quieter that what I ever imagined a 70,000+ crowd could be.  People cried.  People looked stunned.  Immediately after the moment, Clay Walker sang the national anthem.  Right after chants of USA broke out.  The whole affair was moving.  The NFL did a class act and didn't go over the top.  Everything was extremely appropriate on this day of remembrance.

Arena League Game
On the field the action officially kicked off on Thursday night with defending champ Green Bay hosting New Orleans.  After the 3rd quarter it turned into an arena league game.  I'm not a fan of high scoring light up the scoreboard games.  I like a good well played game on both sides of the ball.  Defensively this game was an eyesore.  I turned it off midway through the 3rd.

Hurricane Cam
A hurricane has swirled around Cam Newton since around the SEC championship game.  Critics doubt his pro potential.  Many thought Carolina reached making Newton the overall number one pick.  For one week at least, Newton silenced critics and played an outstanding debut game.  He line only read 22 completions for 422 yards and two TDs. Better yet, Newton staying home and didn't run away at the first sign of trouble.  Its only one game but I hope he continues to silence critics.

 Ravens Maul Steelers
Seriously Pittsburgh, what was that?  Much is made about the Super Bowl loser hangover.  For the Fat Ben Roethlisberger lead Steelers, it's been two titles followed up by two playoff misses the following season.  Fat Ben and Company started early this season.  Seven turnovers and a 35-7 beat down by their fiercest division rivals the Ravens.  I haven't seen the game but I may watch for the entertainment value later this week.

Falcons Grounded
Going in to the season, I think the Atlanta Falcons entered with to many questions on defense.  They really didn't do much to address the concerns after the Packers ran them off the field in the playoffs.  Instead they traded a big chunk of their draft picks to select Julio Jones in the first round.  For week one, the results were unexpected.  Matt Ryan threw for 319 yards and a pick.  The Falcon offense put up some impressive numbers.  Michael Turner rambled for ten yards a carry ten times for 100 yards.  The receiving trio of Jones, Roddy White and Anthony Gonzalez combined for 204 yards.  One glaring state is missing from those numbers.  No one bothered to put the ball in the endzone.

The defense performed as expected.  Jay Cutler threw for 312 yards and two TDs.  Matt Forte was a one man wrecking crew.  He ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught 90 yards on 5 receptions that included a 56 yard TD.  

The Falcons management built the team with a fundamental flaw.  They build an offense capable of scoring on the ground with Michael Turner and move the ball through the air with Matt Ryan and his receivers.  The problem occurs when a opponent is able to score a high number of points while the defense holds the Falcons in check.  In this case, the Bears offense slowly built up to a 23-6 lead in the 3rd.  The mighty Falcon offense racked up the yards but the mighter Bear defense only allowed field goals and even scored  TD to make matters worse.  The Falcons were again exposed by a team with balanced with talent on both sides of the ball. 

Ironically, it was the Falcons defense that actually scored the team's sole touchdown.

Chiefs In A World of Hurt
Most fans and pigskin pundits know the preseason means nothing in translating into regular season play.  The majority though thought the Chiefs problems would carry over.  They were exactly right.  What wasn't expected was the week one embarrassment.  The Chiefs lead the league in rushing last season.  The Buffalo Bills were one of the worst five teams in the league.  The Bills ripped the Chiefs 41-7.  Many expected a step back for the Chiefs playing a harder schedule as a division winner.  A step back is fine but not against weaker teams.


Weekly Awards
Line of the Week
32 completions on 48 attempts for 517 yards and 4 TDs - Tom Brady in a Pats 38-24 win over the 'phins.

JaMarcus Russell Player of the Week (formerly the Vince Young Player of the Week)
Donovan McNabb for his outstanding JaMarcus like numbers.  7 for 15 for 39 yards and a touchdown.  Very below average.

Joe Pisarcik Goat of the Week
Tony Romo - when the game is on the line you don't want the ball in Romo's bubbling hands.  First he fumbled in trying to drive into the endzone.  Trying to score isn't a sin in of itself.  Losing the ball in a close game is a mortal sin though.  Romo did better for an encore.  In crunch time he lofted a ball straight into the waiting hands of Darrell Revis.  Finally, in the closing seconds he walks away from the center and is not ready for the ball when it is hiked.  Each sin isn't much alone but when they occur in closing moments they add up to disaster.  Dallas loses the game due to special team blunder and Romo blunders.

NFL 2011 Week One Picks

Again I'm trying for a full season of picks against the spread.  As usual the rules are the same.  First rule, these picks are made only for fun.  In fact I make picks to show why you shouldn't bet.  Second rule is more a disclaimer: make your bets based on my selections at your own risk.  I'm not liable for you following my stupidity.

Now the rules for my game.  In past seasons, I've made my picks based on the link of Fox Sports Odds.  In the past, spreads from four books were given.  This year it's three books.  If all three odds are the same then those are the odds I go with.  If not then majority wins and I pick for or against the majority spread.  In the event that all three odds makers are different, I will post a link to the fourth randomly selected Google search to break any tie.  I also reserve the right not to make a selection on a game.  Finally, if no odds are given I can't make a pick.

Obviously the Thursday opener is in the books so I can't make that pick.  Here we go!

Pittsburgh (+1) at Baltimore  - Always a tough game to call.  There is no love lost between these two teams and the Black and Blue Division second place team might not make the play offs.  In their last two Super Bowl appearances the Steelers have faltered.  Ravens defense is aging.  To me this is a pick em...I'm going with the home team...Ravens

Atlanta at Chicago - all three books have a different spread.  Tie break time.  Google search yielded NFL Odds and broke the tie with the Falcons (-2)  a road favorite. I see a Bears win out right.

Cincinnati (+7) at Cleveland - Both teams are a mess.  Cleveland's a more organized mess but game should be tighter than 7 either way.  Bengals cover.

Indianapolis (+9) at Houston - NFL Odds broke a tie.  Houston whipped Indy at home but lost on the road.  Peyton Manning out for the season, probably, and Arian Foster sits.  To much emotion involved but I think the Texans win handily.

Tennessee (+1) at Jacksonville - I really want to pass on this game.  Both teams are a mess but I think the Titans are going in the opposite direction of the Jags.  Titans

Buffalo (+5) at Kansas City - Chief

Philadelphia (-3.5) at St. Louis - Tons of hype around the Eagles and they might overlook the Rams in week one.  Rams

Carolina (+7) at Arizona - This a dangerous pick.  I want to take a pass but I'm going to take the Cards only because the Panthers are a really lost team at quarterback.

Minnesota (+8.5) at San Diego - my first pass of the season.  Chargers just start to slow out of the gate to warrant a selection.

Seattle (+5) at San Francisco - If the Seahawks would start a warm body at quarterback I'd favor them.  I want to a pass on this too but I'll take 49ers

NY Giants (-3) at Washington - Giants

Dallas (+6) at NY Jets - I think Jets win but Dallas covers.

New England (-7) at Miami - Tony Sparono and crew are already auditioning for next week.  Home crowd gives enough energy to Dolphins at least cover.

Oakland (+3) at Denver - pass

Houston Cougar Game Day 2 vs. North Texas Mean Green

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 Date: September 10, 2011

Time: 6:00 p.m. CDT

Location: Apogee Stadium on UNT Campus

Denton, TX

Radio: 790 AM (Houston, TX)

TV: ESPN3.com

Last Meeting: 1998 Houston 31 UNT 9

All Time Series : UNT leads 7-5

Welcome

The Houston Cougars travel to Denton, TX to help the University of North Texas open their brand spanking new Apogee Stadium.  How or why the Coogs were invited to open up is unknown to me.  Hopefully though it is a glimpse into the future of the Cougars.  With $60 million of $80 million needed to break ground pledges, the Cougars hope to soon open a new stadium too.

There's really not much to say about the game except the Cougars can't afford a let down.  The betting line is 21.5 in favor of the Coogs.  Under former coach Todd Dodge, the Mean Green were a complete mess.  Dodge was fired midseason after a 1-6 start.  The Green finished 3-9 under interim head coach Darryl Dickey.

A new stadium, a new coach, same old results.  UNT dropped the opener to FIU 41-6.

After a big game against UCLA, the Coogs should breeze to an easy victory.  The main thing is to avoid a let down, get a big lead and get the starters out of there to rest and avoid injury.

Not much more to add but Go Coogs!

Avenged - Houston 38 UCLA 34

It wasn't the beat down that the 2009 Rice game was. Nor the resounding thrashing of the 2010 UTEP game but the Houston Cougars extracted a measure of revenge on the UCLA Bruins for an upsetting game in the Rose Bowl last year.

Case Keenum returned to form.  So did the Houston defense.


Sam Khan, Jr. described the crowd best with the term raucous in his article about the Cougars win.   Fans of all ages were fired up for the game.  The student section sold out and was loud and proud.  The announce crowd tallied at 31,144.  Not sure if it's an official sell out but good to see the home town fans show up.  In the past a game like this might get 28,000 or might not.

Cougar of the Game
Case Keenum - He returned as if never injured.  With the Coog WR/RBs scorching the UCLA Bruins, Keenum amassed 310 yards passing and added another 30 running.  He also tossed one TD.  He continues his assault on the NCAA record book.

Troubling Stat of the Game
554 total yard by the Bruins offense. Head coach Kevin Sumlin did say the Bruins offense contained "some of the biggest humans we'll see."  I don't know if he was talking about the big uglies upfront but the Bruin TE and WR corp gave the Cougars fits all game long.  When not hitting his receivers down field for big gains, UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut gashed them on the ground.

Not all was lost defensively.  Like I started on the Game Day 1 entry, if the defense can make some key stops and give the ball back to the offense, things might turn out different.

First off, despite the yardage, the Coog Mad Dogs recovered one fumble early in the game.  That turnover lead to a touchdown.

In the closing minutes of the first half is where the defense made its key stop and pretty much turned the game in the Cougars favor.  Brehaut completed a 5 yard TD and the Bruins closed the gap to 17-14 with 2:49 left in the half.  In the matter of 3 plays and under a minute the Coogs widen the lead to 24-14.  With 1:56 left, the Bruins had time to work.  The Cougars give up a first down but then hold on the next three plays forcing UCLA to punt.  Keenum and Company take possession with 35 ticks left on the half clock.  They needed only three plays, including a UCLA pass interference call, to put the ball in the endzone to Tyron Carrier.  Houston closes out the half up 31-14 thanks to one defensive stop.

Kicking Is Key
There was a total of one Bruin fans sitting in my section.  His recurring theme during the game was Bruin kicking game is an adventure.  Line drive extra point after line drive extra point, I expected a missed PAT.  It never happened.  Then came the 4th quarter.  Despite the yardage total, the defense made a stop and UCLA decided to kick the FG.  The kicker, Kip Smith, finally put some height on the kick but he still missed.  I knew it was no good as soon as the student section behind the goal posts went wild before the ref's signal.  A blocked extra point finally came after the Bruins cut the Cougar lead to four.  Despite all else, the game came down to two botched kicks by UCLA...a missed FG plus blocked extra point equals the difference in a 38-34 contest.

The Highlights and Other Videos
Game Highlights

Coach Sumlin's Post Game Press Conference


Keenum's Post Game Comments


Coach Sumlin's Motivational Video


UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuhisel's Post Game Comments