By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
I'll be honest. Before Notre Dame played them in 2009, I hardly even knew that Nevada had a major college football team. Now I watch them every opportunity I can.
Sure, the Wolfpack play in the WAC - which would be a completely obscure football conference if not for Boise State - and they'll never play for a national title, but they are just such an exciting team to watch.
And now they're also a ranked team for the first time since 1948 after beating BYU.
Nevada is fifth in the nation in scoring offense with 44.8 points per game. Last year they ranked sixth in that category and the year before, they ranked 12th.
What's at the root of the Wolfpack's offensive success? A little offense called the pistol and a guy who would be in the thick of Heisman discussions if he played in a different conference - Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick is ranked 39th in the nation in passing with 231 yards per game. He's thrown seven touchdowns and just one interception. Not bad. But throw on top of that the fact that he's averaging almost 113 yards on the ground, which is 15th in the nation among all rushers, not just quarterbacks, and the fact he has more rushing touchdowns than Michigan's Denard Robinson and you've got a dynamic player there.
Oh, let's not forget that Nevada also has a running back that is ranked 14th in the nation in rushing and has added five touchdowns of his own.
The one thing holding Nevada back in the past has been its defense, which ranked 86th in scoring defense last year and honestly, that's what made their games that much more exciting. But this season, the Wolfpack is averaging less than 19 points allowed per game, an impressive improvement over last year.
Boise State is still by far the best team in the WAC, but Nov. 26 in Reno is one game I'm hoping finds its way onto the television schedule. It should be one to watch.
Chris Maza is the owner of the Maza's Musings blog. See this post and a host of other features on his page at http://mazasmusings.wordpress.com
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Staff NFL picks: Jim Ingram vs. Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Staff Report
The showdown has been set. Staffers Jim Ingram and Chad Garner will go head-to-head every week to see who knows the most about football. It's a simple process: Pick each game, not vs. the spread, and see who has the best record at end of the season.
HERE ARE THE PICKS:
CHAD JIMMY
SF AT KC SF SF
DET AT MIN MIN MIN
BUF AT NE NE NE
ATL AT NO NO NO
TEN AT NYG NYG NYG
PIT AT TB PIT PIT
CIN AT CAR CIN CIN
CLE AT BAL BAL BAL
DAL AT HOU DAL DAL
WAS AT STL WAS WAS
PHI AT JAX PHI PHI
IND AT DEN IND IND
OAK AT ARZ OAK ARZ
SD AT SEA SD SEA
MIA AT NYJ NYJ MIA
MONDAY NIGHT
GB AT CHI GB GB
(record) (0-0) (0-0)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Faulk a giant loss for the Patriots
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The Patriots absorbed a big loss in Sunday's game vs. the hated Jets. Third down specialist Kevin Faulk was injured in the game and it was found that he suffered an ACL tear to his knee.
Obviously, not good news for the Patriots.
Around the country, it may not seem like a big loss at all since Faulk isn't a great tailback or even a full-time starter.
But everyone here in Patriots Nation really knows how important Faulk was to the success of this team.
Faulk is that total team player that every coach hopes to have on his team. He didn't complain about not starting, he was great in the locker room, he helped the young guys and he produced every time he was allowed to touch the football.
On the field, Faulk was the secret weapon not many clubs have. On third down, you could bet Faulk was in the backfield or split out wide. Faulk was a great draw running back, but his best trait was catching the ball and picking up much-needed first downs. Didn't it seem like every time the Pats were in a third-and-long situation, Faulk got his paws on the pigskin and picked up a first down to keep a drive alive? Lets not forget about how great he was picking up blitzes and keeping Tom Brady clean from attacking defenders.
Basically, Faulk did it all from that running back slot. And since the Pats decided to trade away Laurence Maroney, they are left with aging Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and the Law Firm to carry the load. Yes, no one from that above list can do what Faulk did. The depth in the backfield isn't good, either, so expect to see Brady throw more passes. It' a big loss, no doubt about it.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Future Super Bowl Champs? Not Yet.
By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
I admit it. I bought into the hype that was the New York Jets. I actually thought that maybe Rex Ryan was right when he stated that the Jets were the future Super Bowl champs.
With all the talk, with all the player acquisitons such as Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, LT, and Antonio Cromartie, there was reason to beleive that he Jets were the real deal. Now it looks like they may a complete mess.
I normally don't like to read too much into one game, but Monday's loss to the Ravens was telling. It was a huge game for the Jets, and they fell flat on their face.
Opening a new stadium on national TV, against a top team like the Baltimore Ravens, you would have expected the Jets to be on top of their game. Instead they looked like pretenders instead of contenders.
Now the Jets get to face an angry Patriots team who had to sit around all off season hearing about how the Jets had passed them as the class of the AFC East. There now is a ton of pressure on the Jets this week. An 0-2 start, with both loses coming in the Meadowlands, could put Gang Green in an early season hole from which they cannot recover.
The problems for Jets start with QB Mark Sanchez. It almost looked like Jets did not have faith in their young QB. Maybe Tedy Bruschi was right about Sanchez being a front runner. Maybe he is not ready for prime time. After all, he was not even able to crack 80 yards passing. As good as the Ravens are on defense, there is no excuse for putting up those kind of numbers. The best you can say is that he did not turnover the football, but at some point he will have to make plays.
The entire offense looked inept, not just Sanchez. Shonne Greene looked terrible. The only time you heard Braylon Edwards name was for a penalty. And speaking of penalties, how about the Jets defense. All night long, the Jets bailed the Ravens out of 3rd and long with penalties. That shows a lack of discipline. All the talent in the world means nothing if there is a lack of focus and discipline. That all starts with the head coach. If Rex Ryan cannot display self discipline, then how can anyone on his team be expected to show discipline.
Maybe the critics were right about the whole Hard Knocks thing. Now an an angry Patriots team comes to town. You know the Patriots will be ready, and you now Tom Brady will not make mistakes. The Patriots defense may not have the talent of the Jets, but at least you know they will be well coached and not beat themselves with penalties. Can you say the same about the Jets after what we saw in week one? I don't think so. Expect the Jets to fall to 0-2.
It will be a fun week for New York sports radio, that much is certain.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
I admit it. I bought into the hype that was the New York Jets. I actually thought that maybe Rex Ryan was right when he stated that the Jets were the future Super Bowl champs.
With all the talk, with all the player acquisitons such as Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, LT, and Antonio Cromartie, there was reason to beleive that he Jets were the real deal. Now it looks like they may a complete mess.
I normally don't like to read too much into one game, but Monday's loss to the Ravens was telling. It was a huge game for the Jets, and they fell flat on their face.
Opening a new stadium on national TV, against a top team like the Baltimore Ravens, you would have expected the Jets to be on top of their game. Instead they looked like pretenders instead of contenders.
Now the Jets get to face an angry Patriots team who had to sit around all off season hearing about how the Jets had passed them as the class of the AFC East. There now is a ton of pressure on the Jets this week. An 0-2 start, with both loses coming in the Meadowlands, could put Gang Green in an early season hole from which they cannot recover.
The problems for Jets start with QB Mark Sanchez. It almost looked like Jets did not have faith in their young QB. Maybe Tedy Bruschi was right about Sanchez being a front runner. Maybe he is not ready for prime time. After all, he was not even able to crack 80 yards passing. As good as the Ravens are on defense, there is no excuse for putting up those kind of numbers. The best you can say is that he did not turnover the football, but at some point he will have to make plays.
The entire offense looked inept, not just Sanchez. Shonne Greene looked terrible. The only time you heard Braylon Edwards name was for a penalty. And speaking of penalties, how about the Jets defense. All night long, the Jets bailed the Ravens out of 3rd and long with penalties. That shows a lack of discipline. All the talent in the world means nothing if there is a lack of focus and discipline. That all starts with the head coach. If Rex Ryan cannot display self discipline, then how can anyone on his team be expected to show discipline.
Maybe the critics were right about the whole Hard Knocks thing. Now an an angry Patriots team comes to town. You know the Patriots will be ready, and you now Tom Brady will not make mistakes. The Patriots defense may not have the talent of the Jets, but at least you know they will be well coached and not beat themselves with penalties. Can you say the same about the Jets after what we saw in week one? I don't think so. Expect the Jets to fall to 0-2.
It will be a fun week for New York sports radio, that much is certain.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I'm going to miss Maroney
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
While he never lived up to his first-round hype, I'm still going to miss Laurence Maroney.
I know I might be in the minority here, but there was just something about Maroney that had me rooting for him, even when other fans were kicking him down for not running hard enough, being too soft or dancing before he hit the hole.
I guess I liked his upside, he showed flashes of brilliance that always made me hope he'd do that all the time.
But when you're hurt, don't produce enough, etc., I guess that's when an organization has had enough.
For the Patriots, they had obviously given up hope that Maroney would produce on a full-time basis.
So, in the end, the Pats and Maroney parted ways. And go figure, Denver coach and former Pats assistant Josh McDaniels decided to trade for Maroney. See, I guess McDaniels must feel the same way as me that the running back still has enough potential to be a factor in this league.
Was this a good trade (getting a fourth-round for Maroney), or do you think the Pats hurt themselves as far as depth at the running back position? I think they are in big trouble if Fred Taylor goes down. Do you really trust Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk or the Law Firm to carry the load or even come close to being a featured back?
No way.
Expect Tom Brady to air it out even more now.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
While he never lived up to his first-round hype, I'm still going to miss Laurence Maroney.
I know I might be in the minority here, but there was just something about Maroney that had me rooting for him, even when other fans were kicking him down for not running hard enough, being too soft or dancing before he hit the hole.
I guess I liked his upside, he showed flashes of brilliance that always made me hope he'd do that all the time.
But when you're hurt, don't produce enough, etc., I guess that's when an organization has had enough.
For the Patriots, they had obviously given up hope that Maroney would produce on a full-time basis.
So, in the end, the Pats and Maroney parted ways. And go figure, Denver coach and former Pats assistant Josh McDaniels decided to trade for Maroney. See, I guess McDaniels must feel the same way as me that the running back still has enough potential to be a factor in this league.
Was this a good trade (getting a fourth-round for Maroney), or do you think the Pats hurt themselves as far as depth at the running back position? I think they are in big trouble if Fred Taylor goes down. Do you really trust Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk or the Law Firm to carry the load or even come close to being a featured back?
No way.
Expect Tom Brady to air it out even more now.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
NFL Season Picks: Chad & Jim
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Well, technically the 2010 NFL season has already begun, but Chad and I wanted to make sure we got our predictions out prior to the first full day of the schedule. Despite the fact that Chad and I have different opinions on pretty much everything, we apparently seem to agree on what's going to happen this season. As you'll see below, we pick the exact same list of Division winners, as well as both the participants in the AFC & NFC Championship game, and even the Superbowl. We do, however, disagree on the outcome of that game. Well, enough of the build up, read below for our picks. Make sure to let us know what you think!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Durand makes the active roster for Titans
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
There's no substitute for hard work.
A friend of Fan Fanatic Sports, Ryan Durand, is a perfect example of that.
The second-year Tennessee Titans guard, who spent all of his rookie season on the Titans' practice squad, officially made the 53-man roster in his second season.
Obviously, Fan Fanatic Sports would like to congratulate Durand on working hard and getting rewarded with a roster spot.
Durand, who played his high school football at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School (in Fitchburg, Mass.) and Syracuse University, is listed as the backup behind starter Jake Scott at right guard and the third-stringer at left guard.
The 6-foot-5, 301-pound Durand is an athletic offensive lineman and is known for his tremendous smarts on the gridiron.
Take a look at Durand's bio on the Titans' web site.
Here is the Titans' roster for 2010.
Again, congrats Ryan on a job well done.
Best of luck this season.
PHOTO CREDIT /TENNESSEE TITANS
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Pierre Woods proves he's a class act
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Normally, the first reaction when someone gets cut from any team in any league is the player is upset.
Some will blast an organization in the media, others will avoid comment (which means they are ticked off) and some simply don't care because they know they'll get picked up by another team.
In the case of New England Patriots linebacker Pierre Woods, he should be praised for his professionalism after he was released by coach Bill Belichick.
Woods, a solid pro who did his job and was very productive on special teams and in certain cases as a fill-in linebacker, proved to me that he's a stand-up guy and one that actually appreciated the Patriots giving him a job years ago as an undrafted free agent.
Woods' fanfare isn't like the success story of a Kurt Warner (from stock boy, to Arena League to NFL MVP), but he's a guy that's all positive and no negative as far as attitude and willingness to be a total team player.
If you're not familiar with what Woods said about the Patriots organization, take a look here.
Woods appreciated the ride, respected the organization and obviously is leaving on very good terms, even though he was basically told that he wasn't good enough to be on the roster.
Woods could have easily blasted the organization, bad-mouthed players and the fans, but he took the high road. He showed his true character -- a class act on and off the field.
Wish there were more guys like that in the NFL and all of professional sports.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Take a hike Burgess
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The Patriots made their final cuts today to get down to the mandatory 53-man roster limit.
And while there weren't many shockers as far as cuts -- not like Arizona releasing quarterback Matt Leinart -- the biggest name to get his walking papers was Derrick Burgess.
The outside linebacker, who was clearly a major bust last season and apparently considered retiring in the offseason, isn't going to be a big loss anyway.
Burgess was brought here to rush the quarterback, but his five sacks last year just didn't and aren't going to cut it. Burgess became a liability anyway, since teams this preseason continually ran to his side and he couldn't do a darn thing about it. Burgess couldn't stop the run and didn't seem to want to for that matter. I can see if he was so outstanding at sacking the QB that holding the edge on running plays wasn't a top priority, but Burgess proved he couldn't do either.
In the end, the Patriots coaching staff knew it was time to cut bait. It really says something about the player when one of the Pats' weaknesses is getting pressure on the QB, and a guy they cut has been known as a edge rusher his whole career.
Well, maybe now you can officially retire Burgess.
The other decent name to be cut by the Pats was Sam Aiken, the Patriots' special teams captain. Granted, Aiken has been a special teams star, but he simply doesn't offer enough (face it, he's not a good receiver) on offense to warrant a roster spot. I love guys that can play special teams and Aiken would get a spot if he was better than any other receiver on the team, but he's not. So, in the end, Aiken was let go but I know he won't be out of work for long.
Check out this link for the complete list of Patriots cuts.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Pats Notebook: Who is the running back in New England?
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Here are some quick thoughts about the New England Patriots and the upcoming season.
Preseason is a joke
Thank God the preseason is over. Really, does any player want to have to compete in four preseason games, which are also meaningless to the fans. Every preseason, players drop like flies due to season-ending injuries, and the Patriots felt that with the loss of top cornerback Leigh Bodden.
I want some Maroney
OK, I’m back to defending my man Laurence Maroney. It appears as though he won’t be the starting tailback this season (but he’s still listed as the starter on the depth chart on patriots.com, interesting), at least the numbers say so since he’s touched the ball very little and he hasn’t been starting. Listen, I like Fred Taylor (in his Jacksonville days) and SammyMorris is a nice complimentary back, and Kevin Faulk is the best third-down back in the league, but why is Maroney in the doghouse? Or is he? It seems like it, considering it’s a common theme every year under coach Bill Belichick anyway. Maroney is what he is: He’s not flashy, but he’s proven to be serviceable and effective when given the chance to succeed. Yes, I know he’s had fumbling issues in the past and he doesn’t hit the hole quite as hard as some fans would like to see, but he’s the best back in this group in New England and I’d like to see him get his touches to add a stabilizing force into this running game. I know it’s going to be by committee, but I honestly still believe that Maroney is the best back the Patriots have. I know, if you’re reading this, you think I’m crazy, but look past the jitterbug style Maroney has before he hits the hole because once he gets there he runs hard, puts his head down and tries to lower a boom on a defender. He’s not soft, I’m not buying that. He wasn’t soft in college and he isn’t soft here. What are the coaches looking for as their lead back, anyway? I guess that’s the better question.
More weapons for Brady
Second-round pick Rob Gronkowski, a tight end, appears to be the real deal. Yes, he’s a rookie and it’s natural that he’s going to make mistakes, but he’s a real threat in this passing game. Just watch how he operates and runs past defenders. It’s amazing. And, oh, watch him catch the football – with his hands, no body catches with Gronkowski. This kid is going to be real good. Rookie Aaron Hernandez, if he can stay healthy, also has sure hands and is another coverage nightmare for defenders.
Welker sure looks good
Wes Welker says he’s not 100 percent and doesn’t feel great yet, but from the naked eye I can’t tell that he’s coming off major knee surgery. Welker is a perfectionist and I respect that. Don’t worry about the knee, he’s going to be just fine …I hope.
The cornerback situation is a little concerning. That’s not based on talent, either, it’s more based on a lack of experience with rookie first-rounder Devin McCourty and second-year player Darius Butler. They’ve got the speed to keep up with the best receivers in the game, but they lack wisdom and that always shows against the savvy veterans in the league.
Double trouble
If you want the best duo of young, aggressive and talented inside linebackers with tremendous upside, the Pats have them with Jerod Mayo and rookie Brandon Spikes. Good luck running into the gut of the Patriots defense with those two brick walls. Tight ends getting behind those two for big plays in the passing game, well, that’s a totally different stories.
Great hair
Everyone has an opinion on Tom Brady’s hair, you either like it or want him to cut it off. For me, I don’t care, just don’t throw picks and keep chucking touchdowns. If he’s not vintage Brady, watch the wackos talk about how his long flowing locks are the reason for his so-so play.
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Here are some quick thoughts about the New England Patriots and the upcoming season.
Preseason is a joke
Thank God the preseason is over. Really, does any player want to have to compete in four preseason games, which are also meaningless to the fans. Every preseason, players drop like flies due to season-ending injuries, and the Patriots felt that with the loss of top cornerback Leigh Bodden.
I want some Maroney
OK, I’m back to defending my man Laurence Maroney. It appears as though he won’t be the starting tailback this season (but he’s still listed as the starter on the depth chart on patriots.com, interesting), at least the numbers say so since he’s touched the ball very little and he hasn’t been starting. Listen, I like Fred Taylor (in his Jacksonville days) and SammyMorris is a nice complimentary back, and Kevin Faulk is the best third-down back in the league, but why is Maroney in the doghouse? Or is he? It seems like it, considering it’s a common theme every year under coach Bill Belichick anyway. Maroney is what he is: He’s not flashy, but he’s proven to be serviceable and effective when given the chance to succeed. Yes, I know he’s had fumbling issues in the past and he doesn’t hit the hole quite as hard as some fans would like to see, but he’s the best back in this group in New England and I’d like to see him get his touches to add a stabilizing force into this running game. I know it’s going to be by committee, but I honestly still believe that Maroney is the best back the Patriots have. I know, if you’re reading this, you think I’m crazy, but look past the jitterbug style Maroney has before he hits the hole because once he gets there he runs hard, puts his head down and tries to lower a boom on a defender. He’s not soft, I’m not buying that. He wasn’t soft in college and he isn’t soft here. What are the coaches looking for as their lead back, anyway? I guess that’s the better question.
More weapons for Brady
Second-round pick Rob Gronkowski, a tight end, appears to be the real deal. Yes, he’s a rookie and it’s natural that he’s going to make mistakes, but he’s a real threat in this passing game. Just watch how he operates and runs past defenders. It’s amazing. And, oh, watch him catch the football – with his hands, no body catches with Gronkowski. This kid is going to be real good. Rookie Aaron Hernandez, if he can stay healthy, also has sure hands and is another coverage nightmare for defenders.
Welker sure looks good
Wes Welker says he’s not 100 percent and doesn’t feel great yet, but from the naked eye I can’t tell that he’s coming off major knee surgery. Welker is a perfectionist and I respect that. Don’t worry about the knee, he’s going to be just fine …I hope.
The cornerback situation is a little concerning. That’s not based on talent, either, it’s more based on a lack of experience with rookie first-rounder Devin McCourty and second-year player Darius Butler. They’ve got the speed to keep up with the best receivers in the game, but they lack wisdom and that always shows against the savvy veterans in the league.
Double trouble
If you want the best duo of young, aggressive and talented inside linebackers with tremendous upside, the Pats have them with Jerod Mayo and rookie Brandon Spikes. Good luck running into the gut of the Patriots defense with those two brick walls. Tight ends getting behind those two for big plays in the passing game, well, that’s a totally different stories.
Great hair
Everyone has an opinion on Tom Brady’s hair, you either like it or want him to cut it off. For me, I don’t care, just don’t throw picks and keep chucking touchdowns. If he’s not vintage Brady, watch the wackos talk about how his long flowing locks are the reason for his so-so play.
The Patriots D scares me
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
The Patriots defense scares the living heck out of me. I live by the old cliche that defense wins championships. If that is the case, than the Patriots have no chance of winning the Super Bowl. Before any of you out there start yelling at me, I know the Patriots played a "vanilla", or base 3-4 defense throughout the majority of the preseason. I know that, and that's not what I'm basing my opinion on. I'm basing my opinion on several important factors.
1. Proven starters on defense - Vince Wilfork is the only proven starter on defense for the Patriots. You can say what you want about Brandon Merriweather, but if anything he's been a very inconsistent player. He shouldn't have made the pro bowl last year, and I really think he's a bit overrated at this point. That doesn't mean I don't like him, or think he can be a very good player in the NFL. Same thing goes for Jerod Mayo. He showed great promise his rookie season, but was injured a good portion of last season. I'd actually say he's their 2nd best player on defense, but he's still young and untested for the most part.
2. Lack of Pass Rush - I'm not talking about sacks here. I am talking about the ability to put pressure on the quarterback. You don't necessarily have to sack the quarterback, and agree with BB that sacks numbers are overrated. Besides Tully Banta-Cain, who had 5 of his team leading 10 sacks against the Bills last year, who else will provide the pass rush? Derrick Burgess maybe, but don't count on the likes of Gerard Warren, Mike Wright or Ron Brace from the defensive line position.
3. Defensive Secondary - Long term I love the Pats secondary. After hating the Devin McCourty pick, I think he looks like a legit NFL corner. I love his size, his toughness and nose for the ball. I also realize how hard it is to play corner in the NFL as a rookie. I like Darius Butler, but having a rookie and 2nd year man at the corners scares me. Merriweather is a good safety, but needs to be consistent with his play. After struggling to start his rookie season, I really like the strides Patrick, don't call me Eugene, Chung has made. Ultimately the lack of pass rush will lead to struggles for the secondary. I do expect them to improve as the season goes on and they learn to play together.
Even with all that, I predict the Patriots to go 10-6 this season and narrowly win the AFC East yet again. I'm not sold on the Jets, and actually think the Dolphins may be a bigger threat in the division. The offense will be so good they'll help win games when the defense lets them down. Unfortunately, you might see the same thing happen in the playoffs as last years debacle against the Ravens. Because I try to be a positive guy, I want to end on a high note. The Pats have made some very good draft picks on defense in the past two years. I like Butler, Chung, McCourty and Spikes. I look forward to seeing what Jermaine Cunningham can do when he gets healthy. He may be able to add some help to the pass rush. Ron Brace, after being a disaster his rookie season, really showed us something this preseason. Just like the secondary, the Pats defense could return to their glory days in the years to come, especially since they have 2 first round and 2 second round picks next season.
All we can do now is hold on for the wild ride of the NFL season.
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