Tag: Terrelle Pryor (Page 13 of 15)

      Six Pack of Observations: 2009 Fiesta Bowl

      January 6, 2009 /

      Here are six quick-hit thoughts on Texas’s 24-21 win over Ohio State in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl:

      1. Quan Cosby was Texas’s MVP, not Colt McCoy
      No disrespect to McCoy (41 of 58, 414 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INTs) because he was excellent, but the Longhorns’ true MVP was wideout Quan Cosby. Texas’s offense is predicated on short timing routes in which McCoy gets the ball out of his hands quickly and the wideouts getting up the field. McCoy did his job because he was outstanding in getting the ball out of his hands quickly (especially in the second half), but he doesn’t rack up over 400 yards if his receivers don’t make plays after the catch. And considering he hauled in 14 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns (including the 26-yard game winner with just 16 seconds remaining in the game), Crosby certainly made his fair share of plays. He also threw a key block to spring McCoy for a 14-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter that provided a spark for a UT offense that was dominated in the first half.

      2. Terrelle Pryor is a special player, but he’s incredibly raw.
      There’s no doubt that Pryor is a special player and it’s easy to see why he was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. But he’s got a long way to go before he’s a complete player. The way he evaded defenders to the tune of 73 rushing yards was impressive, especially with how many tackles he broke. And his touchdown catch to put the Buckeyes within two with just over seven minutes to go in the game was a thing of beauty. But how many times did he run out of bounds in the first half when he had at least 3-5 yards more that he could have gained? The one run were he went out of bounds when he could have easily picked up a first down clearly showed his lack of awareness. He also has a ton of work to do with his footwork when passing, because several of his attempts (including one on a 2pt conversion) fell short because he never set his feet. He uses his arm too much and Jim Tressel and the OSU coaching staff will certainly have to get the kid to learn how to drive his legs into his throws or he’ll wind up throwing plenty of interceptions before his career is finished. That said, he’s a phenomenal athlete and considering he’s only a freshman, he had quite a year. OSU has a special player on its hands and he’s already showed that he’s committed to becoming a better quarterback. I love his attitude.

      3. Not reaching the end zone in the first half doomed OSU
      The Buckeyes really missed a golden opportunity to head into halftime with a double-digit lead, but they couldn’t get into the end zone in the first half. Texas couldn’t stop Beanie Wells’ in the first half and OSU was moving the ball effectively down the field. But twice they had to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns and it doomed them down the stretch. They essentially couldn’t capitalize on how well their defense played in the first half and it doomed them down the stretch. If OSU takes a 14-3 lead into halftime, the second half obviously plays out much differently than it did and the Buckeyes probably take home the win.

      4. Jim Tressel’s use of both Pryor and Todd Boeckman was excellent.
      Forget the fact that both Pryor and Boeckman had major contributions in OSU’s victory. Where Tressell’s idea to use both quarterbacks really came into play was at the beginning of the game. He knew the freshman Pryor would have some jitters playing in his first bowl game, so he didn’t line him under center, but split him out wide as a receiver. What the play did was show Texas a formation they weren’t entirely prepared for, allowed Pryor to get the blood flowing without having to take a snap, and got both quarterbacks involved early in the game plan. Great idea.

      5. Texas needed more from their running game.
      Colt McCoy didn’t put up Colt McCoy-type numbers, but he certainly did more than enough in the passing game to beat Ohio State. But what really hurt the Longhorns was the fact that they couldn’t get a consistent running game going. The Buckeyes did a fantastic job of keeping McCoy (UT’s leading rusher this season) contained and forcing the Longhorns to run the ball more conventionally, which isn’t their style. Obviously it didn’t matter in the end because McCoy and the passing game saved them, but the Horns could have pointed to their lack of running game as one of the reasons for defeat if they had lost.

      6. First down or no first down?
      Many OSU fans are going to talk about the first down that was awarded to Texas on a 4th and 2 with under a minute to play. In full speed, it looked like the Longhorn receiver’s forward progress got him the first down but it was close on the replay. There’s definitely an argument to be made that he was stopped short, which would have given OSU a win.

      6.5 Who in the name of everything right in this world was that blond standing next to Colt McCoy’s parents?
      Holy crap. They couldn’t show her enough…

      College Football

      College Football Week 13 Primer

      November 22, 2008 /

      Top 25 vs. Top 25:

      Sam Bradford      No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma, 8:00 PM ET ABC
      Raise your hand if you don’t appreciate what the Big 12 has given us this year and I’ll come over and punch you square in the mouth. The Big 12 has handed us game of the year matchups virtually every week this season and this week is no exception. Many college football pundits have had this Saturday circled on their calendars as the day when Texas Tech finally falls. Oklahoma has stumbled only once this year (vs. previously top ranked Texas on October 11), but outside of that no other team has come close to knocking them off. The Sooners have averaged over 50 points a game, but they’ll take on a much-improved Red Raider defense this week in Norman. OU is going to score points, but can they stop Heisman hopefuls Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree? No defense in the nation (not even Texas) has slowed down the dynamic duo yet and it’s hard to believe that anyone will at this point. Still, the Sooners will be looking to avenge last year’s 34-27 loss to Tech in Lubbock. In that game, No. 4 ranked OU lost Sam Bradford early in the first half and allowed Crabtree to haul in 12 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown. Oddsmakers have established Oklahoma as a 7-point favorite, but one has to believe that this is going to go down to the wire.

      No. 14 Brigham Young at No. 7 Utah, 6:00 PM ET
      No love for the Mountain West – this one won’t even be shown on national TV despite huge ramifications for the Utes. A MWC title and a possible BCS at-large bid is on the line in this game as Utah has another opportunity to justify their high ranking. Before being upset by TCU, BYU expected to be where Utah currently is – ranked in the top 10. The Cougars will have to overcome a stingy Utes defense that is damn near impossible to run against, yielding just 3.0 yards per carry. The onus for BYU in this game will be on quarterback Max Hall to carry the offense, while the Cougar defense will have its hands full with Brian Johnson. Considering this will be yet another tightly contested game, the Utes should be prepared. They’ve got five wins this year by seven or fewer points, including their nail biting 13-10 win over TCU three weeks ago. Oddsmakers have made BYU a 6.5-point underdog.

      No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State, 3:30 PM ET ABC
      How sad is it that in the same week of Ohio State-Michigan, this is the best matchup in the Big Ten. Penn State’s win over Indiana may have looked like a blowout, but the Lions struggled with Hoosiers in the first half. Truth be told, PSU’s offense hasn’t looked that impressive in weeks. After reaching the end zone 12 times threw the air in their first fives games, the Lions have managed just five touchdown passes in their last six contests. The Spartans struggled in their last Big Ten statement game (a 45-7 drubbing at the hands of Ohio State on October 18), but Brian Hoyer (548 yards, 5 TDs in two games vs. PSU) has really stepped up of late and is putting together a nice season. Of course, all eyes will be on RB Javon Ringer. Ringer is third in the nation in rushing and if MSU’s massive offensive line can open up holes for the small back, Sparty will have an opportunity to keep PSU’s spread offense off the field and possibly walk away with an upset. Penn State is a 14.5-point favorite at home.

      No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati, 7:00 PM ET ESPN2
      The job head coach Brian Kelly (who I suggested should be a candidate to replace Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee) has done this year in Cincinnati despite losing three quarterbacks has been remarkable. To keep the Bearcats afloat in the Big East is outstanding it speaks volumes about Kelly being a true winner. Speaking of the Big East, first place is on the line in this game as Cincy will try to avenge its 24-17 loss to PITT last year by throwing early and often. The Panthers have struggled against teams with like to attack downfield and Tony Pike has played very well lately in Kelly’s offense. The mission is clear for Cincinnati: Win the next two games at home and claim the Big East title. PITT is a 5-point underdog.

      Upset Watch:

      Graham HarrellNo. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma, 8:00 PM ET ABC
      As previously mentioned, there’s a ton of folks waiting for the Red Raiders to fall this year, but I’ve already bought into the hype. No defense has even remotely slowed down Harrell or Crabtree and while Bradford and the OU offense can go toe to toe with anyone, I say Tech walks away with a straight up upset. Of course, they may need to score 60 points to win.

      Other Notable Games:

      Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State, 12:00 PM ET ABC
      This could be the worst Michigan-Ohio State matchup in the history of this rivalry. If the Buckeyes don’t beat the Wolverines by more than four touchdowns, Jim Tressel should resign. Michigan has never found a way to stop a mobile quarterback, so Terrelle Pryor should find life pretty easy this week at the Horse Shoe.

      Florida State at No. 25 Maryland, 7:45 PM ET
      Does any team want to win the ACC? The Terps have provided some great upsets this season, but they don’t seem to fare well when favored. Still, their rushing attack matches up well against a solid Seminole front seven and this is one of the more underrated matchups of the week.

      No. 21 Oregon State at Arizona, 7:00 PM ET
      The Beavers can still punch a ticket to Pasadena this year, but they’ll need to get past a Wildcat team that gave USC fits a couple weeks ago.

      College Football

      Week 11 College Football Primer

      November 8, 2008 /

      Top 25 vs. Top 25

      John Parker WilsonNo. 1 Alabama at No. 16 LSU, 3:30 PM ET Saturday
      Nick Saban doesn’t want the focus to be on him this week and for good reason since he spurned LSU a few years ago to go fail in the NFL. That storyline might be a little overrated though, because it’s doubtful the current Tiger players Saban recruited care much about beating him on Saturday. They’ll have more motivation beating a hated rival and knocking off the No. 1 team in the nation. ‘Bama has had issues playing four full quarters all season – will this be the week they finally play a full game and soundly beat a quality opponent? Or will LSU sustain the Tide’s initial punch and come through in the second half? This game is what SEC football is all about and we should expect nothing more than a close, physical matchup that comes down to the wire, even though Alabama has the superior team.

      No. 12 TCU at No. 8 Utah, 8:00 PM ET Thursday
      The Horned Frogs have the opportunity to knock off yet another MWC foe out of BCS title contention this Saturday when they pay a trip to Utah. TCU has held its previous five opponents to only 8.4 points per game and have also limited eight foes to a 2008 season low in yards, which is the most of any team in Division I football. Pundits love what the Frogs bring to the table defensively, but the Utes have plenty to offer themselves. Utah has held four of its opponents to season lows in yardage and has won nine in a row at home. They’ve also beaten TCU the past two meetings and obviously have a ton to play for.

      No. 11 Ohio State at No. 24 Northwestern, 12:00 PM ET
      The Wildcats got a lot of people’s attention last week when they pulled off a miracle upset of Minnesota in the final seconds of the game. But Ohio State has had over a week to stew about the loss to Penn State and they’ve had a ton of success against Northwestern over the past couple of years. The Buckeyes have allowed just 23 total points the past three games and it’s highly doubtful backup quarterback Mike Kakfa puts together back-to-back solid performances. It’ll be interesting to see how freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor rebounds after his crucial fumble played a big role in OSU’s loss to the Nittany Lions.

      Michael CrabtreeNo. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 2 Texas Tech, 8:00 PM ET, Saturday
      It’s no wonder why people keep talking about the Big 12 being the superior conference this season when it keeps churning out fantastic matchups like this every week. Tech had zero time to celebrate its win over Texas last week because the Cowboys offer another potential roadblock to the Raiders’ BCS title hopes. Much like last week, this game features a pair of Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback in Graham Harrell and Zac Robinson. Can Tech continue to post 500 yards of offense every game or will Mike Leach’s team eventually stumble? OK State hasn’t won in Lubbock since 1944, but the Cowboys have played very well on the road under Mike Gundy and are hoping a win could elevate their BCS status after they hung tough with Texas a few weeks ago. Can the Raiders play as well defensively as they did last week against the Longhorns or will yet another top 5 team get picked off?

      No. 21 California at No. 7 USC, 8:00 PM ET, Saturday
      Many pundits have had this game circled as one where the Trojans could potentially fall victim to an upset. The Bears usually play USC close and fought the Trojans to the final whistle last year before losing by only a touchdown. USC struggled a bit last week in Arizona, but are incredibly tough to beat at the Coliseum. Maybe head coach Pete Carroll will call upon “Captain Compete” to rally his team again before the game.

      No. 20 Georgia Tech at No. 19 North Carolina, 12:00 PM ET, Saturday
      The Yellow Jackets struggled again last week but managed to knock off Florida State with a last second field goal after a goal line stop and a fumble recovery in the end zone (thank you reader GTA for the correction). Tech is 9-1 against the Heels in their last 10 meetings, but UNC has 17 interceptions on the season, which ties them for the most in the nation. The key in this game will be whether or not the Heels can stop Tech’s relentless ground attack for four quarters. If the Jackets find success on the ground, there will be no reason to put the ball in the air often and risk turning the ball over to a ball-hawking UNC defense.

      Other Notable Games:

      No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions at Iowa, 3:30 PM ET, Saturday
      Those fans that don’t want to see another Big Ten team play for a national championship will be watching this game with hopes that the Hawkeyes can pull off a huge upset. The Lions probably won’t faced another ranked team the rest of the way, although Iowa and Michigan State are no pushovers. PSU is coming off a bye week – will they come out flat or determine after moving down in the rankings?

      College Football

      BCS Bowl Forecast

      October 31, 2008 /

      RealClearSports.com lays out its first BCS bowl forecast of the year.

      Texas LonghornsBCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: January 8, Dolphin Stadium, Miami
      Matchup: Texas vs. Penn State (Odds: Texas 70%, Penn State 80%)
      Outlook: The No. 1-ranked Longhorns will have their toughest remaining game this week at Texas Tech. A victory should send Texas smooth sailing into Key Biscayne. Penn State has an even easier slate, but it still needs Alabama to lose one game.

      ROSE BOWL: January 1, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
      Matchup: USC vs. Ohio State (Odds: USC 90%, Ohio State 50%)
      Outlook: The Tournament of Roses red coats don’t want this rematch – it would be the third time these two teams meet in 12 months – but it will have to really think outside of the box to avoid it. If Penn State somehow doesn’t make it to the BCS title game, fine. If USC somehow doesn’t win the Pac-10 outright, fine. But would the Rose Bowl dare to invite an SEC team to finally matchup with the Trojans in a bowl game? That would be nice, but that would also risk ticking off the Big Ten. Just remember, these guys invited Illinois last year. The track record isn’t good.

      FIESTA BOWL: January 5, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
      Matchup: Alabama vs. Utah (Odds: Alabama 20%, Utah 60%)
      Outlook: Say what? You ask. Well, this is going on the assumption that Oklahoma would be the obvious second choice from the Big 12 and the Fiesta Bowl doesn’t want a third consecutive appearance by the Sooners. The quandary here is that although the Fiesta would get the first pick if it loses Texas to the BCS title game, it pretty much has no way of avoid taking a non-BCS automatic qualifier, be it Utah, TCU, Boise State or even Tulsa.

      SUGAR BOWL: January, 2, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
      Matchup: Florida vs. Oklahoma (Odds: Florida 40%, Oklahoma 50%)
      Outlook: If the Fiesta does pass on Oklahoma, then the Sooners land here to play the SEC champion. If Oklahoma is gone, then the Sugar will be forced to take the Big East champion, leaving the second SEC team for the Orange Bowl. If the SEC champion somehow ends up in the BCS title game, then the Sugar will take the Big 12’s second team.

      Florida-Oklahoma would be awesome. And even though the Trojans blew them out earlier this season, I’d be interested in an OSU-USC rematch with Terrelle Pryor playing the entire game under center for the Buckeyes.

      College Football

      Ready for another Big Ten team in the national championship?

      October 25, 2008 /

      Penn State-Ohio StateIt’s probably fair to say that most college football fans would rather pull off one their arms and beat themselves with it than see another Big Ten team play for a national championship. But that’s exactly what might happen after Penn State defeated Ohio State 13-6 (their first win in Columbus since 1978) on Saturday night.

      Joe Paterno’s bunch has just one road game left on its schedule (at Iowa next Saturday), before wrapping up the 2008 season with home contests against Indiana and Michigan. And while the Hawkeyes are an improved team, there isn’t a whole lot standing in the Nittany Lions way of running the table and finishing the year undefeated.

      Those who watched Saturday night probably didn’t come away too impressed with PSU, but don’t forget that the Buckeyes have one of the most experienced defenses in the country. They held tough runner Evan Royster under 100 yards and even though Daryll Clark completed 12 of 20 passes for 121 yards, OSU’s defense battered him all night. (He even had to come out for most of the fourth quarter after taking a legal hit to the head.)

      This game came down to Terrelle Pryor’s fumble early in the fourth quarter that PSU eventually turned into a touchdown. On a 3rd and 1 from the 50-yard line, Pryor tried to make a big play by bouncing outside instead of rushing forward for what should have been an easy first down. He had the ball stripped and in the end, it was the key play that turned the game around in the Lions favor. Still, he’s only a freshman and he’s got an incredible future ahead of him because despite the loss and what ESPN’s Mark May said earlier in the season, Pryor is clearly ready for prime time.

      Penn State might not stand a chance against the best in the Big 12 or SEC, but outside of a bad half against Michigan last week, they’ve soundly beat opponents all season. They’re not flashy, but they play hard and do the little things right. General college football fans might not want to see another Big Ten team play for a title, but they might not have a choice after Saturday night.

      College Football

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