College Football Week 2

Well, two weeks into the season and I’m happy with the direction Alabama is going. They are playing with an attention to detail that they haven’t had in several seasons. The receivers are throwing blocks down field for other receivers and running backs. The special teams are doing good too with long returns and good blocking.

I know they haven’t played a team of the caliber of LSU or Florida but Vanderbilt is not your typical Vanderbilt team of the last 10 or 15 years. They have some big play makers, a good defense, and a hunger to be better.

Our offensive line is strong. John Parker Wilson is throwing the ball well and spreading it around to many different players. Plus our Freshman running back has rushed for over 100 yards in the first two games including some long runs like the run to start the Western Carolina game for a TD.

No one thought in the pre-season that Michigan would be winless in their first two home games. Especially, a loss to former division I-AA Appalachian State (they renamed the division to something else). Notre Dame on the other hand was a prediction I gave before the season and not to rile up Vicki. They lost a lot of talent and I don’t know how long its going to be before they are back to the level of play they had last season.

They have a bad offensive line and have a hard time moving the ball consistently. Their defense is on the field too long and has a hard time getting pressure on the quarterback. They are starting a freshman at quarterback after using all three quarterbacks last week against Georgia Tech.

Auburn played a very sloppy game against Kansas State and didn’t deserve to the win but you have to hand it to them for pulling it out. But during the week, I told people to watch out for a possible upset on the plains when South Florida comes knocking. South Florida played them very tough and had several chances to win the game in regulation. But their placekicker missed 3 field goals and had a fourth blocked, but he came through when it mattered most.

In the overtime period, Auburn gained only 2 yards on a run that was followed by two incomplete passes and settled for a field goal. But South Florida had some deception still to pull. After a couple play action runs by the quarterback and running back, they finally put the ball up in the air for a 14 yard TD pass to end the game. So, Auburn falls out of the AP and Coaches Top 25 with this loss.

Next week, Alabama hosts Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Auburn hosts Mississippi State and Notre Dame travels to Michigan for the battle of the winless teams. I guess the good thing to say about this game is that at least one team will come out with a win.