Wahoos leave me unsatisfied but looked good against USC; FCS teams are no pushovers; Dallas must get sharper
I finally finished the UVA-USC recording. Man, you can't help but come away with a sour taste in your mouth after watching that game. The win was there for the taking and the Hoos just made too many mistakes on top of the refs' blown calls.
Dontrelle Inman must've really made the officials mad before the game started because he got royally screwed on what ended up being--I think--two consecutive calls early in the second quarter of the game:
FIRST PLAY-BOBBLED CATCH
On the first, he bobbled a catch near the sideline and, in real time, appeared to not make the catch. In slow motion, however, I think it is pretty obvious that he got his left foot down and at the same time has the ball secured to his chest. Certainly looked like a catch to me. I have no idea why this play was not looked at by the refs. The most absurd plays are often looked at, calls that look really simple and this one was difficult and deserved to be looked at and yet it wasn't. Really don't understand why not. But if the head ref had looked at the play, I think there would have been irrefutable evidence that Inman had made the catch.
SECOND PLAY-PASS INTERFERENCE
Inman came off the line like any other play and kind of hit the CB at the LOS and pass interference was called on Inman. No idea why. Neither player was overly physical on the play. Thousands of receiver-cornerback plays before this one have been more physical in nature and didn't get flags. Not sure where this phantom foul came from.
FAKE PUNT CONTROVERSY
Of course, the call everyone is talking about was the perfectly executed fake punt that the refs also scrwed us on with a misinterpretation of the rules. Punter Jimmy Howell threw the ball to Colter Phillips who rumbled down the field and into USC's red zone. Isaac Cain and I guess the other personal protector(s) for Howell, however, were called for blocks below the waist, chop blocks I believe they are called. I have always thought that chop blocks were perfectly legal as long as they were done in front of the defender. The penalty only comes when the block comes from behind. Not sure how the refs got it in their heads that the play was illegal. They even conferenced about it and still got the call wrong. Not until after halftime did the head ref tell London they were wrong. Well, gee, thanks a lot. Helps us a lot now. I am not one to play the "what if" game, because so many variables go into the outcome of a football game. But if that penalty had never been called, Virginia could have very well won the contest.
As it stands though, the Cavs are 1-1 after a hard-fought loss at USC. Virginia played well, but just made too many mistakes to come out on top. It was a bittersweet result. I was ecstatic that Virginia was that close to almost beating USC, but could not help but feel disappointed that the Cavaliers did not pull out the victory. A couple plays here or there, a better decision here and there, a flag not thrown here or there, and we win by three to 10 points. And the kicking is horrific. Robert Randolph was stud last year--17 of 19 in FG attempts. I won't soon forget the 49-yard FG he made in the pouring rain against GT. And now he can't make anything. And the snaps seem slow and FG kicks just seem lazy. Something's got to change. The only real bright area of the team last year is now the worst part. I think UVA is getting a bye week at a good time. The players and coaches can really go back and dive in depth to film and assess what went right, what went wrong, what's worked, and what hasn't during the first two games. I expect to see a crisp performance against VMI on Sept. 25.
I feel good about the way the team looks, overall, however. The players are already bringing a swagger, a kind of physicality that has been sorely needed in the program. Things are looking up. We are certainly not ready to vault into the top 25, but we are better than lots of people think and I hope we continue to prove people wrong throughout the year. I do not think, however, that Virginia almost beat the No. 16 team in the country on the road. USC is not that great right now, maybe not even top 25 material. I think Oregon, Stanford, and maybe Arizona and Washington all have good chances to finish ahead of the Trojans in the PAC-10.
And what was with that crowd? It did not seem intimidating at all. Sure, it was the coliseum, and that brings lots of history and prestige, but the crowd itself was not very good and the students seemed disinterested in the game. Lots of fans left the game early, as well.
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JMU STUNS VT
The Dukes pulled off the biggest upet in college football since Appy State's win over Michigan in the Big House and now they have garnered more votes in the AP poll than VT. Incredible. I never thought I'd see the day when the Hokies would lose to an FCS team, much less in Lane Stadium. JMU has got to be taken seriously as an FCS title contender now. Overall, FCS teams have played very well so far this year. JMU won. North Dakota State beat Kansas. Gardner-Webb beat Akron. Liberty beat Ball State. Jackson State beat Ole Miss. I might be leaving out a team or two. FCS teams need to start thinking twice about scheduling "easy wins" against "inferior" FCS opponents.
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SKINS-BOYS
I did not watch the recording of this one. I figured I would just get mad. I watched the Virginia recording even though it was a loss because I want to see how the team is growing. With Dallas, it is just frustrating that the team isn't playing better. The Cowboys moved the ball up and down the field but could not put points on the board. And it was doubly frustrating because the defense played just about as well as it could have. And the only good thing to come out the of the last play is the fact that there was no denying that Barron held on the play. He didn't even try to conceal it. In fact, he performed a WWE choke hold on Orakpo. Dallas fans had nothing to complain about. Like Virginia, Dallas must cut down on penalties. Unfortunately, penalties have been a big part of the Wade Phillips era, so I won't be holding my breath. I think we have all the talent in the world but as long as we are an undisciplined team, I don't think we will get to that elite level where we can win a Super Bowl or even an NFC title.
Well, that's all for now I think. Look for a Thursday or Friday post where I run down some college and NFL picks for the weekend.
Dontrelle Inman must've really made the officials mad before the game started because he got royally screwed on what ended up being--I think--two consecutive calls early in the second quarter of the game:
FIRST PLAY-BOBBLED CATCH
On the first, he bobbled a catch near the sideline and, in real time, appeared to not make the catch. In slow motion, however, I think it is pretty obvious that he got his left foot down and at the same time has the ball secured to his chest. Certainly looked like a catch to me. I have no idea why this play was not looked at by the refs. The most absurd plays are often looked at, calls that look really simple and this one was difficult and deserved to be looked at and yet it wasn't. Really don't understand why not. But if the head ref had looked at the play, I think there would have been irrefutable evidence that Inman had made the catch.
SECOND PLAY-PASS INTERFERENCE
Inman came off the line like any other play and kind of hit the CB at the LOS and pass interference was called on Inman. No idea why. Neither player was overly physical on the play. Thousands of receiver-cornerback plays before this one have been more physical in nature and didn't get flags. Not sure where this phantom foul came from.
FAKE PUNT CONTROVERSY
Of course, the call everyone is talking about was the perfectly executed fake punt that the refs also scrwed us on with a misinterpretation of the rules. Punter Jimmy Howell threw the ball to Colter Phillips who rumbled down the field and into USC's red zone. Isaac Cain and I guess the other personal protector(s) for Howell, however, were called for blocks below the waist, chop blocks I believe they are called. I have always thought that chop blocks were perfectly legal as long as they were done in front of the defender. The penalty only comes when the block comes from behind. Not sure how the refs got it in their heads that the play was illegal. They even conferenced about it and still got the call wrong. Not until after halftime did the head ref tell London they were wrong. Well, gee, thanks a lot. Helps us a lot now. I am not one to play the "what if" game, because so many variables go into the outcome of a football game. But if that penalty had never been called, Virginia could have very well won the contest.
As it stands though, the Cavs are 1-1 after a hard-fought loss at USC. Virginia played well, but just made too many mistakes to come out on top. It was a bittersweet result. I was ecstatic that Virginia was that close to almost beating USC, but could not help but feel disappointed that the Cavaliers did not pull out the victory. A couple plays here or there, a better decision here and there, a flag not thrown here or there, and we win by three to 10 points. And the kicking is horrific. Robert Randolph was stud last year--17 of 19 in FG attempts. I won't soon forget the 49-yard FG he made in the pouring rain against GT. And now he can't make anything. And the snaps seem slow and FG kicks just seem lazy. Something's got to change. The only real bright area of the team last year is now the worst part. I think UVA is getting a bye week at a good time. The players and coaches can really go back and dive in depth to film and assess what went right, what went wrong, what's worked, and what hasn't during the first two games. I expect to see a crisp performance against VMI on Sept. 25.
I feel good about the way the team looks, overall, however. The players are already bringing a swagger, a kind of physicality that has been sorely needed in the program. Things are looking up. We are certainly not ready to vault into the top 25, but we are better than lots of people think and I hope we continue to prove people wrong throughout the year. I do not think, however, that Virginia almost beat the No. 16 team in the country on the road. USC is not that great right now, maybe not even top 25 material. I think Oregon, Stanford, and maybe Arizona and Washington all have good chances to finish ahead of the Trojans in the PAC-10.
And what was with that crowd? It did not seem intimidating at all. Sure, it was the coliseum, and that brings lots of history and prestige, but the crowd itself was not very good and the students seemed disinterested in the game. Lots of fans left the game early, as well.
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JMU STUNS VT
The Dukes pulled off the biggest upet in college football since Appy State's win over Michigan in the Big House and now they have garnered more votes in the AP poll than VT. Incredible. I never thought I'd see the day when the Hokies would lose to an FCS team, much less in Lane Stadium. JMU has got to be taken seriously as an FCS title contender now. Overall, FCS teams have played very well so far this year. JMU won. North Dakota State beat Kansas. Gardner-Webb beat Akron. Liberty beat Ball State. Jackson State beat Ole Miss. I might be leaving out a team or two. FCS teams need to start thinking twice about scheduling "easy wins" against "inferior" FCS opponents.
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SKINS-BOYS
I did not watch the recording of this one. I figured I would just get mad. I watched the Virginia recording even though it was a loss because I want to see how the team is growing. With Dallas, it is just frustrating that the team isn't playing better. The Cowboys moved the ball up and down the field but could not put points on the board. And it was doubly frustrating because the defense played just about as well as it could have. And the only good thing to come out the of the last play is the fact that there was no denying that Barron held on the play. He didn't even try to conceal it. In fact, he performed a WWE choke hold on Orakpo. Dallas fans had nothing to complain about. Like Virginia, Dallas must cut down on penalties. Unfortunately, penalties have been a big part of the Wade Phillips era, so I won't be holding my breath. I think we have all the talent in the world but as long as we are an undisciplined team, I don't think we will get to that elite level where we can win a Super Bowl or even an NFC title.
Well, that's all for now I think. Look for a Thursday or Friday post where I run down some college and NFL picks for the weekend.
it was almost a perfect weekend for me. oh well, 2/3 i'll take it.
ReplyDeletewhat other win? the fact that dallas lost? which it had to, considering it played the redskins.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: Alex Barron held on the last play of the Dallas game, not Holland. Thanks to fellow Cowboys fan Nick Eilerson for the catch.
ReplyDelete