FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[altor]

So, how can my Browns draft in order to get out of the hole they are in?  It seems like they draft a quarterback every other year, and it does no good.  I'm tired of them constantly trying to find a leader at that position when it is clear that nobody can lead a team while they are lying on their back 3 out of every 4 plays.

Watching them on Monday night a couple weeks ago was painful.  Jaworski kept saying, "They need to take shots down the field."  I wanted to just scream back, "You were a quarterback.  Can you not see that he's getting hit before he can plant his foot on a three step drop?"

Cleveland has had a revolving door of coaches and quarterbacks since they came back in 1999.  But, I'm not convinced that's been their problem.  They drafted Joe Thomas a couple years ago, but he has no support on the line.  They've made the playoffs once since 1999 and missed the playoffs a couple years ago despite a 10-6 record.

Is there anybody out there that can bring the Browns at least back to the winning ways of the 80s?  Those teams couldn't win championships, but at least they were playing football.  I can't even call the 2009 version of the Cleveland Browns a football team without vomiting a little in my mouth.

[Adam Sayer]

Eric Steinbach wasn't a bad lineman when he was in Cincinnati, I don't know if he's had any injury problems. His success here could have also been a result of playing with a healthy Levi Jones and Willi Anderson.

I don't really see why there is such a gripe about drafting a great QB. In the Super Bowl's played this decade (2000-2009), there have been 7-8 Super Bowl teams (almost half) who either had an average QB, or had an average QB who played well for a season.

Baltimore Ravens (Trent Dilfer), 2001
New York Giants (Kerry Collins), 2001 - you could argue Kerry Collins is better than average. He has had some success at various points in his career.
Tampa Bay (Brad Johnson), 2003
Carolina (Jake Delhomme), 2004
Pittsburgh (Big Ben), 2006 - At this point in his career I don't think you would have called him a great QB.
Seattle (Matt Hasselback), 2006
Chicago (Rex Grossman), 2007 - I wouldn't even call Rex an average QB
***I'd put last year's Steeler's team too because I think in any other system, Big Ben wouldn't be that good.

The key, just like it has been for decades, is a great front on both sides of the ball. I'd be more concerned as an executive about drafting defensive players, lineman, and RB's.

[dc_has_been]

Eric Steinbach wasn't a bad lineman when he was in Cincinnati, I don't know if he's had any injury problems. His success here could have also been a result of playing with a healthy Levi Jones and Willi Anderson.

I don't really see why there is such a gripe about drafting a great QB. In the Super Bowl's played this decade (2000-2009), there have been 7-8 Super Bowl teams (almost half) who either had an average QB, or had an average QB who played well for a season.

Baltimore Ravens (Trent Dilfer), 2001
New York Giants (Kerry Collins), 2001 - you could argue Kerry Collins is better than average. He has had some success at various points in his career.
[b]Tampa Bay[/b] (Brad Johnson), 2003 I would not think Brad Johnson is average based on his stats.
Carolina (Jake Delhomme), 2004 At the time he wasn't average either.
Pittsburgh (Big Ben), 2006 - At this point in his career I don't think you would have called him a great QB.
[b]Seattle[/b] (Matt Hasselback), 2006 are you kidding me???
Chicago (Rex Grossman), 2007 - I wouldn't even call Rex an average QB
***I'd put last year's Steeler's team too because I think in any other system, Big Ben wouldn't be that good.
I think he is one of the most underrated QB's out there.
The key, just like it has been for decades, is a great front on both sides of the ball. I'd be more concerned as an executive about drafting defensive players, lineman, and RB's.

altor, I don't want to hear it.  At least you had a decade to be proud of.  Yeah the Lions have had some decent years in my 30 years of life but to have only 1 playoff win since the Super Bowl era is aweful!!! 

[Adam Sayer]

You saying Brad Johnson, Jake Delhomme, and Matt Hasselbeck are not average? They are as plain as white rice. Both of whom have done hardly a thing since going to the Super Bowl or before the Super Bowl.

Hasselbeck has had a QB rating over 90 only twice in 9 years as a starter (98.2 being his high and just so happens to be the Super Bowl year). His career QB rating is 84...average.

Jake Delhomme best QB rating in a complete 16-game season is 88.1 and has a career QB rating of 82.

Brad Johnson...he didn't do much of anything his whole career.

[Adam Sayer]

UC with a big win in arguably the best college football game of the year. It would be nice if Texas lost because UC should leapfrog TCU, but what I'm hoping for is the following:

Texas beats Nebraska in multiple overtimes and Florida and Alabama play multiple OT's with one winning on a 2-pt conversion. If that is the case, I think the BCS championship might be a SEC rematch. The entire nation would be as mad as one of Michael Vick's pitbulls. Anything to cause chaos within the BCS.

Since my scenario wont happen, a playoff would be the following:

1. Florida/Alabama
8. Ohio State

4. TCU (assuming TCU and UC flip)
5. Boise State

3. Cincinnati
6. Florida/Alabama

2. Texas
7. Oregon

I know that wouldn't happen either, but it would be nice. Keep some 6-6 teams who don't deserve a Bowl out of the bowl season. Since the Rose Bowl insists on having a Big 10 and a Pac 10 team, give them the best available and rotate the Fiesta, Sugar, and Orange Bowls as the Semi's and championship game. Oh wait...I was having a dream.......

[70_dc_alum]

funny thing is that seeding nailed the bcs line up just swap OSU out of the ship...and stop after rd1

[Adam Sayer]

Brian Kelly is meeting today with ND officials. At the same time he is in discussions with UC regarding a contract extension. When asked if he would be coaching UC in the Sugar Bowl, he responded, "I can't guarantee anything." Notre Dame is like the Yankees. They think they can buy success. The problem is ND hasn't won sh!t in 22 years...how can alums, boosters, etc. let the school keep spending money to lose...just so they can get the next great coach??? Don't worry, Kelly will turn it around...just like the last 3 have.


Know what...just go. Get your greedy, money-hungry a$$ out of Cincinnati. As good of a coach as Brian Kelly is, he's not bigger than the program.

[dc_has_been]

If Kelly can land the job in South Bend why wouldn't he leave?  Based upon that schools history and for being a football school, why not?  DI BCS is a buisness for these coaches.  It is like getting a offer to teach at a better school with more money and support all around.  I'm not trying to say Cincy is a bad school but when you start comparing facilities, recruiting, salary, nationally televised games and so on, ND has the upper hand.

[SaintsFAN]

He IS bigger than the program... thats why everyone is up in arms about Kelly.  Here's what I've heard... I know a few close to the UC Program...

*Kelly is technically in talks about an extension... he's basically seeing what UC is willing to do.  He did this AFTER his agent found out that ND was offering $4.8M +Heavy incentives.  

*ND is his DREAM job --- grew up in Catholic neighborhood, went to Catholic Schools and that includes college.  He still attends mass*

*He WANTS the Notre Dame job... he's not on record of this but its common knowledge.

*One snafu is how does he still get his wife the best medical treatment (she's very sick with cancer)... they have doctors they love in Cincy.   Does she give her blessing (sounds like she has already)

*He is up there to convince ND that he's the charismatic choice for them.  If he does this, it will be announced officially by Friday.


now... I'm as big a ND blowhard as there is.  ND doesn't think they can buy success.  If they did, they would've continued after the top guys on their original list --- Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer and John Gruden.  They have TO PAY a coach like Kelly to take the job because his career could be over after its all said and done.  Its a chance they are taking and coaches need to be compensated to take the risk.  I understand the hate for ND, but I think they will be "back" fairly soon with Kelly.  Now, "back" is defined as what?  I don't think they can compete year in and year out in the top 10. . . but they can be up there every 3 years or so.  


The last coach they had didn't have any college experience and never found a defensive coordinator.  As long as Kelly gets a DC, he'll have them play very hard and have them very well prepared... none of this comeback crap that made it lucky for ND to be 6-6 in 2009.

One more snag... back up Dayne Crist, I'm hearing that he's leaving school... meaning Kelly will need to tutor a QB right away and get him game ready.  Crist was already a question mark because he tore his ACL against Washington St.  


Should be an interesting few days.  If UC loses Kelly, they better hope he's not taking Combs with him... the guy is truly responsible for getting the Cincy area kids to stay.

[SaintsFAN]

If Kelly can land the job in South Bend why wouldn't he leave?  Based upon that schools history and for being a football school, why not?  DI BCS is a buisness for these coaches.  It is like getting a offer to teach at a better school with more money and support all around.  I'm not trying to say Cincy is a bad school but when you start comparing facilities, recruiting, salary, nationally televised games and so on, ND has the upper hand.

All he has to do is coach football in South Bend... unlike at UC where he's still trying to get people in the stadium.  ND has been sold out of their 80,000+ stadium since it was refurbished in 1997.  And long before that, when the capacity was 59,000+. 

One more thing that doesnt seem like a big deal but is in the grand scheme of things ---- BK was not on the radio shows last night (Mo Egger and Lance Mcalister).  That is weird that he wouldn't take time to call in (even from NYC) to try and sell tix by being on the shows he's on weekly. 

If he truly had Cincy on his mind, he'd have been on the radio with these two knuckleheads.

[Adam Sayer]

He's not bigger than the program. He's been here 3 years, had a lot of success, but ultimately will be gone and the program will keep on keeping on. It may take awhile for them to become a BCS team again, but it will happen. Now if Kelly had been here for 10+ years, won a few Nat'l Championships (or at the bare minimum made a few Championship games), built new facilities and refurbished the stadium...then he would be bigger than the program. Last time I checked, ain't nothin been built yet and he aint been to no championship games.

To be honest, I think Florida, Kelly coaching or not, will wipe the floor with UC. I'm talking a 20-30 point victory. 38 - 17 is my prediction.

[Adam Sayer]

Notre Dame has to try to buy success. No one will go there for "prestige" anymore. They have a wonderful tradition, but kids now don't give a sh!t about what happened before they were born or when their parent's were kids. The Catholic population and the sense of Catholic pride that was very prevalent in the 60's through the mid-80's has been in sharp decline. ND used to be able to recruit on that alone...simply because they were a Catholic Institution that won (Kind of like Catholics vs The World - aka Protestants). Kids and families don't have the sense of belonging anymore. You have ND fans, but kids ant to go were teams win and have success. Not to mention the pool in which ND has to choose players is almost half of Ohio State, Florida, Texas, or even UC's because of academics. For all these reasons, ND has no choice but to try to buy success with the "Next Great Coach." They need someone who can win with less. In 5 years, when BK is on the hot seat, I'll try not to say I told you so. In regards to Charlie...I told you so.

Someone on a blog stated Brian Kelly will be able to steal recruits away from midwest schools like Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, etc. The answer to that is GET REAL. Of the athletes those schools recuit, maybe 60% could academically get into ND...probably a lot less. He won't be stealing any recruits from anywhere.

Personally, if UC offers him approx 2-3 million, plus guarentees all the stuff will be built, I think he stays...dream job or not. I think he's smart engh to realize he has a shot at a BCS game every year at UC...a scenario that isn't the case at ND.

[Adam Sayer]

Now on to Michigan...now that Harbaugh has shown he would leave Stanford if the price/situation is right, I think he will be the next coach at Michigan (he is a "Michigan Man"). Rich Rod will get next year...if they do not get into a major bowl game, I think he will be gone in favor of Harbaugh...if he has not moved on some place else. If he has, it will be someone else (maybe Les Miles who I believe is also from Michigan). In order for Rodriguez to keep his job, Michigan will have to be 8-4 or better and the game the 3rd week of November will decide that. Even if Michigan finishes 8-4 but loses to Ohio State, I think he will be gone. Ohio State should be favored to win the Big 10 again next year (they only lose 4-5 starters from this year's team) and will probably be a preseason top 5 team - this time it should be a legit ranking unlike this year when they should have started out in the 12-15 area.

[altor]

In order for Rodriguez to keep his job, Michigan will have to be 8-4 or better and the game the 3rd week of November will decide that.

Why would it matter if they beat Wisconsin or not?   

Sorry to be pedantic.  The Big 10 added an extra idle week for everybody starting next year.  Michigan will be in Columbus on Thanksgiving weekend in 2010.

[SaintsFAN]

In order for Rodriguez to keep his job, Michigan will have to be 8-4 or better and the game the 3rd week of November will decide that.

Why would it matter if they beat Wisconsin or not?   

Sorry to be pedantic.  The Big 10 added an extra idle week for everybody starting next year.  Michigan will be in Columbus on Thanksgiving weekend in 2010.

That will be strange.  It was nice to see the Big Ten out of the way this year ---- since they didn't really have any impact on the National Title race.  One thought on Iowa.  I was really rooting for them to beat The Luckeyes.  Ken O'Keefe (OC) is buddies with Dean Paul... and I always root for Iowa --- despite them looking like the Steelers with their uniforms.

I think its going to be a great game between Iowa and Ga Tech.  Two well coached teams.  One thing is for sure, this is the only BCS game the Big 10 can win.  Rose Bowl is going to be an Oregon track meet... and Ohio State (or ANY of the Midwest teams) can't keep up.  They play so fast at Oregon under Chip Kelley. 

Sorry OSU boys ---  if Oregon can put 47 on the board against USC, they are going to do the same to Ohio State and "Tressel ball" won't produce 40 points.  OSU has the athletes on offense to score in the 40s but the leash is too tight.  They will be calling for Jimmy's head after this one.

**Charlie Weis just needs to shut up.  Like my friend and coworker David Good said on Bachelorette this past season .... "Man code".   You don't tattle on someone else like that, as a man.