Run for the Roses: Week 3 Lessons
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by The Beast
1. Notre Dame is really, really bad
Provided the fact that you have been hiding under a rock, you have most likely noticed that the Irish are absolutely horrible. Charlie Weis has been hailed on offensive genius but so far, the Irish rank dead last in the nation in rushing yards, total offense, scoring offense, and sacks allowed. They have certainly played a tough schedule with Georgia Tech, Penn State, and Michigan, but they haven't looked the least bit competitive. The offensive linemen have been incapable of blocking anybody in addition to committing numerous false start penalties. While nobody expected the Irish to be a top twenty-five team, I certainly didn't think that they would be this bad:
- Rushing yards per game: -4.67
- Passing yards per game: 119.67
- Total offense: 115
- Scoring offense: 4.3
- Passing efficiency: 133rd ranked
- Sacks allowed per game: 7.67
- Turnovers lost: 95th ranked
- (Stats Provided by Saturday Sound Offs)
2. USC's Patrick Turner will be Okay
Many USC fans are already giving up on wide receiver Patrick Turner after the junior wideout dropped several passes during the game against Nebraska. However, they must not forget that former Trojans, Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett also struggled early on in their careers. In 2002, Williams dropped seven passes against Kansas State but scored two touchdowns a week later against Oregon State. In regards to Turner, the Nebraska game was his first of the season after an injury sustained at the hands of Rey Maualuga. During the last few practices, he wore a yellow jersey and therefore was not allowed to be hit. With a game under his belt, Turner should steadily improve as the season moves on.
3. Ohio State is better than I gave them credit for
Last week, I felt that the Buckeyes weren't living up to their top ten ranking but their win over Washington made me a little more comfortable about them. While the offense may not be as explosive as last year's Troy Smith-led attack, it proved to be efficient against the Huskies. With the scored tied at seven at halftime, the Buckeyes went on to score twenty-six second half points. The second half surge showed that the Buckeyes can score when called upon despite a surplus of offensive weapons. Prior to the season, most pundits, including myself, proclaimed the race for the Big Ten title to be between Michigan and Wisconsin. On Saturday, the Buckeyes proved to the rest of the conference that they too should be included in the race for the title.
4. Michigan ain't done yet
After an 0-2 start, the Wolverines should still compete for a Rose Bowl birth due to their new found enthusiasm and a schedule that doesn't include teams running the spread offense. On Saturday against the Irish, Michigan's defense finally showed the passion and enthusiasm that has been missing for most of the season. One of the main reasons for Michigan's early season struggles has been the fact that they have faced the spread offense. For the next nine games, the Wolverines will not face one team that runs the spread offense as religiously as both Appalachian State and Oregon. Because of this, expect the Wolverines to still be in the running for the Big Ten championship.
5. UCLA has a lot of Problems
After failing to score an offensive touchdown in an embarrassing 44-6 to Utah, the Bruins clearly have some offensive difficulties to take care of. While the defense did give up forty-four points, this was largely due in part to the offense's inability to advance. Immediately, most Bruin fans want to place the blame on quarterback Ben Olson when in reality it falls on the offensive line. On Saturday, the group gave up five sacks in addition to failing to open up holes for the running game. Due to their inability to move the ball on first and second down, the Bruins' offense was faced with 3rd-and-long on every single drive. Besides their poor play, the line also accounted for multiple false start penalties, ruining drives. Obviously the offense wasn't ready to play and blame lies on the coaching staff. According to a Los Angeles Times article, the team played during their practices leading up to the game. The Bruins' offense will determine whether they can grab a top spot in the Pac Ten.
