Category: College Football (Page 148 of 296)

      Report: Bradford to have season-ending surgery

      October 21, 2009 /

      ESPN.com is reporting that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford will likely have season-ending shoulder surgery.

      Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy last season, will address his future plans in a news conference at 6:30 ET Wednesday.

      Bradford re-injured his right shoulder on Oklahoma’s second possession during a 16-13 loss to No. 3 Texas on Saturday. The quarterback had previously been out a month with a sprain of the AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder.

      Bradford had been ruled out of Oklahoma’s game this week at Kansas (No. 25 BCS, No. 24 AP), but coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday any decision beyond that is yet to come.

      Bradford had been projected as an early NFL draft pick, but decided instead to return for his junior season with the Sooners. He was injured just before halftime against BYU and missed Oklahoma’s next three games before returning to throw for 389 yards against Baylor.
      He was hurt again when Texas cornerback Aaron Williams sacked him in the first quarter Saturday.

      The debate over the next couple months will be whether or not Bradford will enter the NFL draft. He’s not expected to announce that decision at his press conference today, but he’ll certainly be probed about it now that his season looks to be over.

      It’s always tough for a player to decide whether or not he wants to enter the NFL draft, but there’s an added element to Bradford’s decision because of his injury. Seeing as how this season didn’t go as planned, he might be inclined to return next year and try to lead Oklahoma back to the national title game. That said, if he returns to school next year, he risks getting hurt again and forgoing millions of dollars in the pros.

      I don’t envy his decision.

      College Football

      Terrelle Pryor’s HS coach: Tressel should let him run more

      October 21, 2009 /

      Ohio State sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s high school coach doesn’t like the way Jim Tressel is utilizing his former star.

      From ESPN.com:

      “They need Terrelle to run more,” former Jeannette (Pa.) High School coach Ray Reitz said. “They’ve put the reins on him and they need to let him go free. When I watch Terrelle play right now, I see a robot.”

      Reitz, now the coach at Latrobe High, said Pryor was recruited on the premise of a more diverse offense.

      “All I know is they promised him that they would teach him a pro-style system with both a shotgun and under center,” Reitz said. “Jim Tressel is a great coach and he’s been running his offense successfully for 30 years. But I’d like to see some zone-read plays where with one mistake [by the defense], he can be gone. With some zone-read plays, they wouldn’t be able to take away all the outside runs because he’d being a threat to go between the tackles.”

      Reitz said he believes that Pryor is being affected by criticism — though he would never admit it.

      “It’s gotten to the point where I turn the volume down when watching TV now,” Reitz said. “I believe the criticism has seeped into his mind. I’m sure there are some mechanical issues. But all I know is he was accurate when he was in high school.”

      Reitz said it would be a mistake to move Pryor to wide receiver — a move which Tressel said does not figure into his plans.

      “He would be a great wide receiver or even a great linebacker,” Reitz said. “But that doesn’t mean you should move him from quarterback. In fact, I don’t think he’d agree to a move to wide receiver. Give him time to grow. Put the ball in his hands and if there is a breakdown let him run. It doesn’t look to me like he’s relaxed. It doesn’t look like he has rhythm. It doesn’t look like he’s comfortable.”

      Tressel’s questionable game planning and playcalling aside, Pryor hasn’t shown that he can handle even the basic fundamentals of the position yet. His footwork is sloppy, his mechanics aren’t sound and he isn’t accurate. So this notion that Tressel isn’t using him effectively is a moot point right now because Pryor needs to figure out the basics of the position first.

      But I agree with Reitz that Pryor shouldn’t be moved to another position yet. If he continues to regress at quarterback, then Tressel can re-assess the situation at the end of the year. But Pryor is only a sophomore and is still learning so at least for the time being, OSU should continue to try to shape him as a quarterback before moving him to another position.

      College Football

      Should Ohio State bench Terrelle Pryor?

      October 20, 2009 /

      Gerardo Orlando of Cleveland Scores wonders whether or not Ohio State should bench highly touted sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

      As an Ohio State fan, it’s hard to imagine watching Pryor play quarterback for two more seasons. The Buckeyes are loaded on defense, and they have a solid offense as well, even with a mediocre offensive line. All they need right now to compete is a quarterback who can hit open receivers and avoid turnovers. They don’t need a Vince Young or even a Troy Smith. Put Craig Krenzel on this team and the Buckeyes are competing for a national championship. Instead, we have the Terrelle Pryor train wreck, and an excellent defense is being wasted.

      Pryor chose Ohio State because he wanted a program that could help him develop as a future NFL quarterback. That seems like a pipe dream now. The kid needs to focus on just being a competent college quarterback.

      What should Tressel do? Would sitting Pryor help? Tressel needs to consider this if Pryor continues to turn over the football. He owes it to the other players on the team.

      In the meantime, short of benching Pryor, Tressel needs to rethink what he’s trying to do on offense (the issue of Tressel calling the plays will be addressed another time). We can see he’s already tried to incorporate the option more into the offense, but we’re seeing that Pryor’s instincts aren’t much better there. Perhaps with practice he’ll get better, as the option at least plays to his running ability. Tressel should toss aside a good chunk of the playbook and go to a much simpler offense. Focus on running the football, the option, and other Wildcat-type plays, and have Pryor make much simpler throws that play off the running game. Dig up old tape from Oklahoma and Nebraska from the 1970’s, or even most of the Woody Hayes years. Keep it simple until the kid shows he can handle more.

      Buckeye fans often get frustrated with Tressel’s conservative play-calling, but opening up the offense is not the solution here. He has to pull things back and start over. And, if Pryor can’t cut it in a simpler offense, then Tressel will have to make a change.

      Well said. I could get into all of the things Pryor is currently struggling with, but the article does a nice job going into detail about the sophomore quarterback’s issues with arm strength, accuracy, mechanics, pocket presence, decision-making and leadership.

      I find it interesting that Pryor was between Ohio State and Michigan two years ago and he might have been a better fit for Rich Rodriguez’s offense than Tressel’s. Not that Pryor has run the option well at OSU, but at least Rich Rod could have exploited Pryor’s running abilities.

      That said, hindsight is always 20/20. If Pryor isn’t cut out to be a collegiate quarterback, then Ann Arbor wasn’t going to solve his issues.

      College Football

      College Football Week 8 Odds & Point Spreads

      October 20, 2009 /

      No. 1 Florida at Mississippi State, 7:30PM ET
      Thanks to a few beneficiary calls, the Gators escaped defeat last week at home against Arkansas. While UF’s defense has been outstanding this season (the Gators have the second best defense in the nation), their offense is lacking the same explosion it had in previous seasons. Jeff Demps and Tim Tebow have kept the ground game afloat for Florida, but the Gators have not been able to move the ball easily through the air. Mississippi State doesn’t pose much of an offensive challenge, but the Bulldogs have limited opponents to only 123.08 yards through the air so Florida might not solve its passing woes this week.
      Odds: Florida –23.

      No. 3 Texas at Missouri, 8:00PM ABC
      The Tigers will face their third ranked opponent in as many weeks this Saturday when they host the No. 3 Longhorns. MIZZOU is coming off back-to-back losses against Nebraska and Oklahoma State, but could prove to be a thorn in UT’s side. The Tigers can spread opponents out with their offense and talented senior receiver Danario Alexander often gives defensive backs fits. That said, sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert has thrown five interceptions the past two weeks after throwing none in MIZZOU’s first four games. Texas’ defense played outstanding last week against Oklahoma and might overwhelm Gabbert with their pressure. Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy should have an easier time moving the ball this week than he did last Saturday against the Sooners, although the Tigers’ secondary is only allowing 114.82 passing yards per game this season.
      Odds: Texas –13.

      No. 6 Iowa at Michigan State, 7:00PM ET
      The Hawkeyes might be the least dominating team in the top 10 based on their margin of victories, but they continue to overcome adversity and find ways to win. After beating Wisconsin last week in Madison, Iowa will travel to East Lansing this Saturday to take on a pesky Michigan State team that has won three in a row. The Spartans are averaging almost 30 points a game but they’re going to find it tough to move the ball through the air against the Hawkeyes’ fifth ranked pass defense. Iowa quarterback Richard Stanzi has plenty of critics, but even they can’t deny how efficient he has been this season. He could take advantage of a MSU defense that ranks 90th in pass efficiency.
      Odds: Iowa PK.

      Oregon State at No. 7 USC, 8:00PM ET
      While the Beavers have been a pimple on the Trojans’ ass over the past couple years, they’ve done all of their damage in Corvallis, not Los Angeles. The past two times Oregon State has traveled to So Cal, they were beaten 52-28 and 24-3. The Trojans’ offense has shown a spark the past two games with 30-plus point efforts against California and Notre Dame, respectively. Matt Barkley had his best game of his career last week in South Bend and he could build on that performance against an Oregon State defense that is allowing 373 total yards per game. If the Beavers are to have any success this Saturday, they must get Jacquizz Rodgers some running room.
      Odds: USC –20.5.

      Continue reading »

      College Football

      USC’s Ayles apologizes for obscene gestures

      October 20, 2009 /

      USC tight end Blake Ayles recently apologized for flipping the double-fingered salute behind two Notre Dame fans before the Trojans’ game in South Bend last Saturday.

      From the L.A. Times:

      In the photo, Ayles can be seen gesturing behind two Notre Dame fans who were on the field for a pregame snapshot.

      “It was all my fault, so I just want to say that I’m sorry,” Ayles said. “I didn’t mean to disrespect the school or anyone.

      “I was just being stupid.”

      Ayles, a sophomore, said he was not aware of the photo until tight ends coach Brennan Carroll brought it to his attention Monday morning.

      “He was just kind of like, ‘C’mon man. Are you serious?’ ” Ayles said.

      Coach Pete Carroll said Ayles would be “on active community service duty for some time,” as punishment for the indiscretion.

      Deadspin has the photo of Ayles’ gestures, which I find to be rather funny myself.

      Wait, I mean, that wasn’t right. Players should represent their programs with the utmost respect and class.

      No, no, it was freaking funny.

      College Football

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