Jahvid Best is for real,but is the rest of the Pac-10?

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Let the Heisman talk begin.

Jahvid Best is the real deal. But is the rest of his team, or any other in the Pac-10?

To this point, California has to be considered the best looking team in the conference. With a 3-0 record, Cal has been a machine offensively. While it all starts with Best and his eight touchdowns, Kevin Reily has led an extremely efficient passing game for the Golden Bears, who have scored 20 touchdowns to start the season. Defensively, Cal has been as strong as they come, allowing just 13.7 points per game. But let's remember that these numbers have been put up against Maryland, Eastern Michigan and Minnesota.

Cal's next opponent, Oregon, was supposed to be a solid Top-25 team, but a Week 1 loss to Boise State and the resulting absence of LaGarrett Blount has been a major blow to the Ducks. They have won their next two, including knocking Utah out of the rankings, but when they take on the Golden Bears and win, you have to wonder whether or not the Ducks really are that good or if Cal rode their success against bad teams to a No. 6 ranking they don't deserve.

But perhaps the biggest team in this conversation has to be USC. Coming into this week, they were ranked as the No. 3 team in the nation. After this weekend and a monumental collapse against a Washington team that didn't win a game last year, they are ranked 12th and suddenly find themselves being doubted as able to win their own conference. Looking back at it, it marks the second week in a row the Trojans have sputtered offensively. You can blame Aaron Corp if you want, but even with Matt Barkley in, USC has played the most conservative offense seen by Pete Carroll in years. Perhaps he knows he doesn't have the talent level he's had in the past? Defensively, the Trojans still are tough to beat, but scoring 31 points over its last two games has to be alarming to Southern Cal.

That's not to say Washington hasn't been a quality team this season. They put up over 400 yards of offense against LSU, but lost, then manhandled Idaho before taking on USC. The real strength for this team has been the offense, led by Jake Locker. Against a team that has had trouble stopping teams on defense in Notre Dame next week, the Huskies could solidify themselves as a truly surprising Top-25 team.

But are any of these teams really a group that could be considered a serious contender for the national championship? At this point, not one has put up a resume that is gleaming by any stretch of the imagination. It's quite possible that the mediocrety of the conference will cause all of these teams to beat up on each other and kill their shots.

No defense, no Bruins jersey for Kessel

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There goes a great young player and scorer.

Phil Kessel, 21, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two first-round picks (2010, 2011) and a second-rounder in 2010.

Kessel then immediately signed a 5-year, $27 million dollar contract with the Leafs.

So who got the better deal?

Well, obviously, right now, the Leafs. They got a proven scorer that potted 36 goals with 24 assists last season. Plus he's so young at 21 with tremendous upside.

But you know the Bruins weren't going to pay him over $5 million a season. Can you really blame them?

Granted, I love Kessel's speed and scoring ability, but the one knock on him is he doesn't play very big, he's not real physical and he doesn't like to play defense. You could say he's all offense and no defense. 

Well, in coach Claude Julien's system, you must play defense and Kessel didn't buy into that philosophy.

So, in the end, he had to go. 

Can't argue with getting two first-rounders, but who knows what the Bruins will get with those picks. Plus, the Bruins didn't handcuff themselves financially, and that's not always a bad thing. Kessel will have a tremendous career, but it won't be for the Boston Bruins.

Hockey Season is Here!

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It absolutely amazes me that hockey season has already arrived. The Bruins have already started camp, and pre-season games, and the college hockey season starts in just a few weeks. I, for one, am really looking forward to it. It's still a bit early to start focusing on the college scene, but I do want to touch on a few things about the Bruins.

1. What are the B's going to do with Phil Kessel? If you believe the rumors, it looks like he's headed to Toronto for 2 first round picks and a third rounder. As much as I'd like to keep Kessel in Boston, I seriously doubt it'll happen. Kessel wants too much money, and the Bruins don't have the room under the cap. Kessel, 21, should have taken the deal the Bruins offered him that was similar to the one David Kreiji signed. According to reports, Kessel was insulted by the offer. I would hate to lose a proven goal scorer like Kessel, especially since he's so young, but if he maintains his current position, the Bruins need to deal him and get the most they can. While Kessel is a better pure scorer than Kreiji, he's not nearly the total package of Kreiji. David Kreiji is a good scorer, a better play maker, and actually plays two-way hockey.

2. How much playing time should Tuuka Rask get this season? It's pretty apparent Rask will be the backup to Tim Thomas. If you've read any of my Bruins coverage, you know I'm not the biggest Tim Thomas fan. While he proved he can be a #1 goalie, I still think he needs enough rest throughout the season. That's why I think Tuuka Rask should play a minimum of 20 games this season. Despite signing Thomas for a 4 year extension last year, Rask is still the goalie of the future for this team.

That's it for right now. More to come as the pre-season moves on.

What to watch for this week in college football

Two weeks into the college football season and the drama is already building. A pair of true freshmen quarterbacks played the hero last week for their respective teams as USC survived an ugly showing against Ohio State with a last-minute drive led by Matt Barkley, while Michigan knocked Notre Dame out of the Top-25 and jumped in with a touchdown pass from Tate Forcier with 11 seconds remaining. Houston out-gunned Oklahoma State, 45-35. North Carolina got help from Connecticut, winning a 12-10 decision, thanks to a holding call on the Huskies in their own end zone.

So what are the things to look for as we head into Week 3 action tomorrow night?


Miami defense vs. Georgia Tech
Miami's offense will put up points if it gets the football, so the question is how often will they get it. Miami has two ailing starters in their defensive backfield that aren't expected to play, but if there's ever a time for that, this is it. Georgia Tech likely won't pass nearly enough to make that a big factor. The Yellow Jackets have averaged just under 50 rushes per game this season, ranking them ninth in that category. Miami was a middle of the road team in terms of stopping the run last year, but were also playing a boatload of young players. The defense, which has returned eight of those players from last year, held Florida state to 3.7 yards per carry. If Georgia Tech finds holes, works the clock and keeps the ball out of Jacory Harris' hands, they should be fine. However, if the offense fails to do so, the Hurricanes' explosive offense could exploit a defense that is vulnerable to the big play. Three of the five touchdowns GT has allowed this season have been for 20 yards or more.

Matt Barkley's status
After his late-game heroics against Ohio State, Barkley could likely be headed for the sidelines. Barkley suffered a bone bruise in his shoulder and as a result, Aaron Corp has been working with the first-team offense. Corp lost his starting job to Barkley, thanks to an injury of his own during the preseason, but has been dubbed "95 percent healthy." While Corp is a more than capable quarterback, who should handle Washington easily, don't expect a quarterback controversy to start brewing unless Barkley missed another week (unlikely) and even then, he's probably still the better option going into a game that could decide the Pac-10 vs. Cal in Week 5.

Michigan State secondary vs. Notre Dame receivers
Michigan State is certainly not looking incredibly strong in the secondary this season. After a solid game, which you would expect against Montana State, the Spartans gave up 352 yards and three touchdowns through the air as Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour posted a 104.3 passer rating. Notre Dame has a much more talented group. Jimmy Clausen has made it a habit of vicitmizing weak secondaries and so far has passed for 654 yards and seven touchdowns, while not getting picked off once for a passer rating of 196.31. Michael Floyd, who suffered a gash on his knee after landing on the track beyond the end zone at Michigan last week, will be back and at full speed. Notre Dame needs to win this week if it wants any shot at returning to the Top-25.

Fresno State offense vs. Boise State defense
Fresno State has had pretty much as balanced an attack as you could possibly have this season, averaging 255.5 yards through the air and 244.5 yards on the ground. Granted, those numbers have been put up against UC-Davis and Wisconsin, but they're still pretty impressive numbers. On the other side, the Broncos have looked pretty incredible, stopping one of the Pac-10's best runners for negative yardage in their season opener, then holding Miami of Ohio to just 1.5 yards on the ground. Oh, they're not giving up much through the air, either. This is by far the toughest test of the season for the Bulldogs and if they can't do anything against the Boise State defense, you can pretty much guarantee the Broncos the WAC championship and a spot at a BCS bowl.

Urban Meyer vs. Lane Kiffin
There really is no contest here as Meyer has proven himself to be one of - if not THE - the most talented coaches in college football and he's got far more firepower than Kiffin. Tennessee has a whole host of problems, not the least of which is the offense averaged just a mere three yards per play against UCLA. More interesting than anything will be the way the media plays this up after an offseason that included Kiffin accusing Meyer of shady recruiting practices.

Sam Bradford's recovery
Not much has been said this week about his status - in fact, nothing has been said at all - but Oklahoma is almost definitely going to sit Bradford again this week. The Sooners probably feel more comfortable about that decision after Landry Jones tossed three touchdowns against Idaho State last week. Week 4 is a bye, so it only makes sence to give Bradford more time to recover before taking on Miami, which could be a crucial game when it comes down to Oklahoma's hopes for a BCS game. As of Saturday, Bradford said he could not throw without pain in his shoulder, though he could throw if he wanted to.

Brady, Pats look shaky in comeback win

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The first word that comes to my mind when I think about last nights game is Wow!. The New England Patriots should not have won that game. Heck, they don't even deserve to win that game, but Tom Brady and Co. somehow pulled it off. Now, on to my observations for the game.

1. Tom Brady was very shaky in the first half. Thankfully, he pulled himself together and went off in the 2nd to become the Tom Brady we all know and love. That was vintage Tom Brady. That game was over. Down 11 points with 5 minutes left.

2. Matt Light is not a good left tackle in the NFL. I am of the opinion that Matt Light has been the most overrated offensive lineman of this decade. Him making the Pro Bowl is like Derek Jeter winning a Gold Glove. It just shouldn't happen. The problem with Matt Light is that he's never been able to handle a speed rusher. He couldn't do it in the prime of his career, and he certainly can't do it now. There's a reason Aaron Schobel has more sacks than anyone else in the NFL against Tom Brady. I loved the one play Sebastian Volmer filled in for Light, right after his tripping penalty, and just mauled Aaron Maybin. I look to see more of Volmer at left tackle in the future.

3. Wes Welker needs to play in the pre-season. Can you have an 11 catch game and play poorly? Yes, you can and that's exactly what Welker did last night. He and Tom Brady were not on the same page. It was never more evident than the quick screen pass that Welker didn't look ready on in the first half that ended with Tom Brady having words with the diminutive receiver. This will obviously change with more work, but wasn't what Pats fans wanted to see.

4. I was pleasantly surprised with the play of the Pats secondary. They pretty much shut down Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden played well, and so did Brandon Merriweather. Merriweather led the team in tackles and was instrumental in Leodis McElvin's 4th quarter fumble that led to the Pats win.

5. I couldn't believe how terrible the defensive line played last night. The Buffalo Bills started three players on the offensive line who never played a down in the NFL, but the Pats defensive line made them look like seasoned veterans up until the final drive of the game. If the Patriots can't get pressure on the quarterback against the most inexperienced line in the NFL, what are they going to do against the likes of the Jets, Steelers & Colts. They already took a hit at depth when Seymour was traded to the Raiders. Ty Warren, Jarvis Green and Vince Wilfork need to step it up.

6. Jerod Mayo is the Patriots best defensive player. If he is out for an extended period of time, the Pats defense is in even more trouble. Enough said on that.

Now let's bring on the Jets!

It's a miracle, Patriots pull off incredible win

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Boy, did the Patriots luck out with a win in the opener against the Buffalo Bills.

Can you believe the Bills were so close to stunning the Pats in the opener like I was?

Who saw this coming? On paper -- I know the games aren't played on paper -- it was a mismatch, but it looked like two pretty even teams duking it out in an AFC East game.

Tom Brady looked rusty, I'll give you that, at certain times ...more like in the first half. But he delivered in the second half with 2 TDs passes in 1:16 span to win late, that's what the elite NFL QBs do (those elite guys are Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Brady), but should it have been that close?

If the Pats defense plays like that against the Bills, what's the rest of the season going to look like? Can they stop a screen pass? No. Granted, they did take away the outside with wide receivers Lee Evans and Terrell Owens, but everything else was wide open -- the running game, and in particular, the screen game. 

They better tighten it up or we're in for a lot of shootouts. But I'm willing to bet Bill Belichick will get these guys flying to the ball and making plays behind the line of scrimmage.

I saw a lot of early-season troubles --missed field goal, dropped balls (how many did Welker drop?) failed conversions on third and fourth down, and some predictability on offense -- pass on first down, run on second down, pass on third. I guess it's better than running draws on third down all the time when Charlie Weis was the offensive coordinator?

What I liked: 

Brady -- he delivered in the clutch, that's why he's the best QB in the NFL, coming off injury or not.

Benjamin Watson -- He showed great hands and great route running for two TDs catches over the middle when the Bills were pinching on the outside receivers, which opened up the middle for someone to take advantage of.

Safety Brandon Meriweather -- He had a team-high 8 tackles. Meriweather was all over the place on offense and special teams, and lit up kickoff returner Leodis McKelvin when Pierre Woods came in and got the strip, setting up the winning score.

Defensive end Tully Banta-Cain -- He provided a much-needed pass rush on the outside. A big welcome back to you! He had two sacks, including a big one on the final drive to preserve the win. Way to step up.

Running back Laurence Maroney -- He's been knocked by so many people, but Maroney ran hard, hit the hole and looked for defenders so he could deliver the blow. Nobody better say he was dancing around because he didn't. He only had 32 yards on 10 carries, but why did they go away from the run after finding success early? Plus, Maroney had a great kickoff return for 52 yards. He no doubt earned his paycheck.

Wide receiver Randy Moss - Moss hauled in 12 balls for 141 yards. I know Bills cornerback Terrence McGee was being praised all night about his coverage skills and not backing down on playing Moss, but Moss simply punked him. I don't know what the announcers were watching.

Be sure to check back to Fan Fanatic Sports for more opinion on the Patriots-Bills game.

Easy call: Patriots will win

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

This should be a real easy win. Tom Brady to Randy Moss, Tom Brady to Randy Moss. Get used to that connection tonight and the rest of the season. Oh, and don't forget about Wes Welker. Plus, the Bills are garbage, especially on offense. Easy win tonight, write it down: Chad Garner of Fan Fanatic Sports is calling a Patriots 34-13 victory.

UPDATE: The Bills lead, 17-13, and I'm sitting here wondering where is the real Patriots team. They frustrate on defense and they're even more frustrating on offense. They better start finishing drives with touchdowns, not field goals, or they're going down to the Bills. Yes, the Bills. Are you serious?