Thoughts From Week 2 2009

Troy vs. No. 2 Florida: the first quarter was some very concerning football from Florida, cutesy football does not work at the start and the Gators looked a little unprepared for what the Trojans threw at them and it definitely led to some poor football... sorry, I am just not a fan of the option, it certainly has its place but it is not the primary weapon of a top-level team... all those penalties are going to catch up with Florida at some point, team needed a little discipline... but even after all the struggles, the Gators responded and just poured it on Troy, after the adjustment it was clear the two teams were in different leagues... Tim Tebow's throwing motion looks much crisper but it still kept all its power, watch the touchdown throw to Riley Cooper and Brandon James and compare it to some of his earlier throws, he is a much more pro-ready quarterback... Chris Rainey is fast.

No. 10 Notre Dame vs. Michigan: both teams made some tremendous plays in this great finish... very impressed by freshman quarterback Tate Forcier he stepped up in a big situation in a very big game that his coach needed... this was one of those games between two pretty evenly matched teams that came down to the last possession and it was just tough luck for Notre Dame... having said that, neither team was fantastic, a lot of those plays at the end apparently were happening throughout... the Wolverines are going to be pretty good once Rich Rodriguez can build up that talent.

UCLA vs. No. 7 Tennessee: this is an example of what one good statistical week can do, I do not think the Volunteers are the seventh best team in the league but a statistical anomaly can really skew these rankings, don't wory they will get better as the year goes on... the Bruins stepped up and won this game.

No. 1 USC vs. No. 18 Ohio State: this started to look like last year's game with that interception on the first play but credit Terelle Pryor for rallying the troops early and making this a game... do not underestimate how important it was that the game was 7-7 at the end of one quarter, it set the tone for the competitiveness this game had... the Trojans look kind of young, quarterback Matt Barkley has looked a little rattled at times and the Trojans were out of timeouts midway through the second quarter... like Florida, USC has some good running backs, more between the tackles than the Gators and not as fast, but just as good... Tyrelle Pryor has running quarterback's sydrome, he thinks he can make any play with his legs and often extends it well with his scrambling ability, but he could also be getting hit deep behind the line of scrimmage for a big loss, USC's defense is fast, but it is young and Pryor is getting away with it... it sounds obvious, but Barkley was a lot more efficient with time, that is even more obvious considering Ohio State was coming at him with pressure all night, but the freshman stepped up with the Trojans needing a good drive in the fourth quarter... having said that, ESPN's description of Barkley being USC's savior? Yeah right, Joe McKnight won this game for the Trojans with his running at the end of the game... Ohio State learned tonight that touchdowns are better than field goals, they won this game in the second half until USC's final drive... Pryor looked like the freshman tonight as he was throwing off his back foot at the end and succumbing to the USC pressure, just a bad performance from the experienced leader.

South Carolina vs. Georgia: Georgia escaped here and makes you wonder what is up with the SEC this year, it definitely is not what it usually is... the Gamecocks could have had a cahnce to win this game, sometimes you just have to duck your head and take on a linebacker Tim Tebow style, the quarterbacks willing to do that are the winners.