football thoughts from week 5

1. The Steelers looked great against the Jaguars (from the parts of the game I saw when I was awake and not passed out from exhaustion).

Playing with a 4th string RB (who gained 99 yards), and without starters Kendall Simmons, Casey Hampton, and Brett Keisel, I think the Steelers showed how deep they are. Imagine how the team will perform if everyone's healthy, and running on all cylinders!

I think Mike Tomlin should let the Steelers run a non-huddle, empty backfield formation more often. This is Ben's team now. This wasn't like his first couple seasons when Cowher just told Ben to take care of the ball and run the offense. This is Ben's offense now. He's a lot more comfortable running his own plays, calling the audibles, and reading the defenses. Ben is more than ready to make that step into "elite QB" status along with Peyton Manning and Brady (pre injury of course), who are responsible for making their own calls at the line of scrimmage.

It's also great to see Troy Polamalu healthy again, after a mediocre season last year. It's so fun watching him run the field and making open field hits and reads. If healthy, Troy is the best safety in the league, hands down.

Thank God for a bye week this week, where the team can actually rest and recover from their injuries. After going 4-1 to start the season, this is a much needed and deserved break.

Quote of the night from Al Michaels on Ben Roethlisberger (who didn't practice the entire week cause of injury, and made two amazing throws while being hit to extend the game-winning drive):

"I think Robert Downing Jr. should call up Ben to make a cameo appearance in the next Iron Man movie."

2. I really feel bad for Trent Edwards.

Ever since he left Los Gatos high and went to Stanford, I've taken a keen interest in career. He was the 2nd rated quarterbacks coming out of high school (behind Vince Young)l, but his college career was pretty bad. It wasn't his fault...he played behind the worst offensive line ever, and he kept on getting injured because of all the banging he took (shoulder injuries and a broken foot). Never once did he make a bowl game, and he never had a winning season at the Farm. But despite it all, he was still one of the top rated QBs in the draft because of his strength, accuracy, and football IQ, and was highly vouched for by the late Bill Walsh.

The Bills drafted him third round, and he made an immediate impact in his rookie season. He won his first start, and almost beat Dallas on MNF in his 2nd game. Unfortunately he broke his wrist in their next game and missed a couple games. He then came back and finished the season strong.

In his 2nd season, he led the Bills to a 4-0 record, was playing extremely well, had a QB rating of 96.6, and led two 4th quarter comebacks. However, on the 3rd play of the game this past weekend, he suffered a concussion on a hit, and didn't return.

This guy just doesn't get any breaks. He has the tools to be a great QB in this league...not an elite QB, but a great QB. But it seems that anytime in his career when he's playing well and gaining confidence, he suffers an injury and a setback.

Man he just needs some luck on his side for once in his career.

3. Michael Silver from Yahoo Sports wrote a great article about TO this past week.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-thegameface100308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

He explained that TO came into this league as a 3rd round draft pick by the 49ers, and essentially learned everything from the great Jerry Rice, who by the way was maybe the biggest "sports diva" in the game. TO complains about not getting the ball after losses. Jerry Rice complained about not getting the ball even after blowout wins. Silver went on to say that his teammates and coaches just simply shrugged it off because they knew that what made Jerry Rice the greatest was his insane competitive drive that fueled his outbursts.

He says all the greatest players (in any sport) want the ball at all times, since they're so confident in their own abilities.

interested read.

4. Another interesting year in college football. Can USC make it back into the Championship Game after losing to Oregon State? It's a possibility, but I think first they have to run the table in the Pac-10. Another loss and they're out of it.

The only thing I see going in USC's favor is that the Big 12 and SEC are absolute killer conferences. It's kind of reminiscent of the 2006 Big East season, when Louisville, West Virginia, and Rutgers were all ranked in the top 5 at some point late in the season. If any of those teams had beaten both of the other teams, they would have played in the championship game. However, all three teams were so good, that at the end, they all ended up with one win and one loss against each other, and essentially eliminated the Big East from playing in the title game.

I see the Big 12 and SEC playing out the same way this year.

In the Big 12, #1 Oklahoma, #5 Texas, and #7 Texas Tech all play each other. These three all have to play #17 Oklahoma State, and they even have to play a team from the North Division. Texas vs #4 Missouri and Oklahoma and Texas Tech both against #16 Kansas.

In the SEC, #2 Alabama and #4 LSU match up as undefeated teams in november (assuming LSU gets past a #11 Georgia team and a #12 Florida team).

In both the SEC and Big 12, it'll ll be very hard for any of these team to remain undefeated after these insane bloodbaths. On any given Saturday, and of these teams can beat each other. I'll be very surprised if there is a team in either the SEC or Big 12 that will come out undefeated at the end of the season.

What about the Big 10? Top to bottom, it's still a very weak conference. If Ohio State (and USC) both win out, I just dont see OSU playing for the title after their humiliating loss to USC. I think #6 Penn State is a sleeper pick. They haven't played anyone that great and heaven't been seriously challenged (though they did beat a decent Illinois team). It'll be interesting to see how they perform against Ohio State, with a healthy Chris Wells, and an ever improving Terrelle Pryor.

If you haven't seen his last minute game winning TD run against a #18 Wisconsin team on the road last Saturday, it's eerily reminiscent of Vince Young...but better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShFMIxi3xVo

But yeah, I'm still unsure about Penn State, but I'm liking OSU more and more every week.

And then of course, there's the whole BYU scenarios...if they win out, should they have a chance at the national title?

all said in done, I dont think USC's playing in the title game this year. They have to beat a tough Cal team and an improving Notre Dame team, as well as the two Arizona schools. If they lose, they're playing in the Rose Bowl again. Even if they win, they'll still have to compete against the Big 12 and SEC teams, and in my eyes, a one loss team in either of those conferences is much more impressive than a one loss USC team.

5. Al Davis is an absolute idiot. He needs to pass away in order for the Raiders to be successful again...and yes I truly think that he'll be controlling the Raiders up until that day.

6. I still stand by my prediction that the Stanford Cardinal will make a bowl game for the first time in 7 years :)

6a. I also still stand by my prediction that the 49ers will make the playoffs. I really like what Mike Martz is doing with JT O'Sullivan :)