hawkeyecub

What did you guys expect, it's Thom Brennaman. The same guy who talks about Bartman for 2 full innings every time he does a Cubs game on FOX. Same guy who didn't stop talking about Tebow for 2 minutes in the national championship game and said that if you get to spend 10 minutes with him, you're immediately a better person. The media love with him is enough as it is, with a guy like him you know it's all you'll hear about. First half of that game was awful, second half they finally showed up. Adrian is just ridiculous.

Because they're just that good. It's a weird deal. The initial appeal started because StarCaps were a weight loss supplement to help them make contract weight in time for training camp. Star Caps weren't on the banned list and when players called in to the NFL hotline that tells them what's banned, StarCaps weren't among the banned substances. Then they were tested at the beginning of camp and halfway through the year found out they were illegal. Then it somehow turned into a weird state employment law case.

i'm still not sold on iowa. isu could not have played worse. I'm not either. The line still looks weak at times and Stanzi is average at best. The D is good but ISU could have kept themselves in it if it weren't for some awful penalty's on there part. Plus they tried to throw deep a lot against a team that designed to prevent the deep ball. I think they'll be top half of the Big Ten though because the conference just isn't that great. I agree with not being "sold" on Iowa but how the hell did the line look weak at times? Robinson and Wegher ran 27 times for 170. The team ran 35 for 191, 5.5 a carry. Stanzi had all day in the pocket the entire game. They were below average last week but got 2 starters back and looked really good, albeit against a bad Big 12 team today. And that was without a preseason All-American. The D is top 10 quality nationally and the o-line when healthy is top 10 nationally with an elite TE. The key to the year is Stanzi and the backs. Stanzi didn't have a very good game but he's an above average Big Ten QB. And I don't care if we have a white back if he runs like Wegher as a true freshman. How they play on the road will dictate the season. I also don't understand any complaint about play calling today. I thought it was excellent and one of the best games O'Keefe has had. If Stanzi executes the throws he typically makes we win that game 45-3.

They're cleared to play this season and nothing further will be decided until after the year.

Navy is better than UNI. I used to be one of the guys who said that even when they had some upset wins, no 1-AA team was better than even a bad 1-A team. It seems like in the last 5-6 years it's really changed though. The last time Iowa played UNI in '05, they went to the 1-AA championship and Iowa had a squad similar to this year's. They sleepwalked a little bit early but had no problem pulling away and winning 45-21. Really good 1-AA teams usually had good skill position guys and speed on the outside but interior play and overall depth were the huge difference. That team Saturday was really good inside and had very little drop-off in depth. You're seeing it with all of those elite 1-AA schools. You could make an argument that UNI and Navy are on equal talent level because most academy guys only had 1-AA or really low scholarships to begin with. Plus they're able to take the guys that get kicked out of, can't get in to or transfer from solid 1-A programs. But Navy always exceeds their talent level.

And the thing about it is there's really no difference in prep for either. He did finally announce this afternoon that it will be Quinn.

If the numbers agreed with all of your perceptions, there'd be no need for the numbers! ;) Right. I just don't trust their formulas for determining value yet. Case in point, running back performance last year: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb Heh...fair enough. I like their defensive stats better than the their offensive ones generally. I mean seriously. Sammy Morris was 8th in total value and 5th in value per play. LaRon McClain 10th and 11th, Patron was 13th, Mewelde Moore was 14th and 6th, Fred Jackson is top 20, washed up Deuce is top 20, washed up Edge was 21st per play. Meanwhile, Adrian is 17th and 22nd, MJD is 18th, Frank Gore is 25 and 29, Steven Jackson is 26 and 31, Barber is 30 and 35 behind Edge and barely in front of Dunn. Matt Forte is 38th.

If the numbers agreed with all of your perceptions, there'd be no need for the numbers! ;) Right. I just don't trust their formulas for determining value yet. Case in point, running back performance last year: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb

I got into the FO stuff a couple years ago and was a big believer. I still like to read the articles and analysis but haven't been able to fully buy in to the numbers. There are just so many things that go completely against what I see with my own eyes and I know that probably sounds like a baseball fan in the '80s replying to Bill James stuff.

What was their rate on 3rd downs? You're right though, this is one of the problems I have with some of the Football Outsiders stuff. It's harder to do "rate" stats in football than baseball because of situations. I understand yards per play is trying to evaluate a defense independent of that team's own offense that forces them to be on the field too much. But you can have a relatively low ypp but not get off the field because you can't get a stop on 3rd down or force turnovers. Not saying either of those were the case with the Bears though, haven't looked at the numbers and compared.

If they have any reason to suspect there was domestic violence, the police have to take the guy in don't they? It doesn't mean charges will be filed though.

Compared to the last 5-6 years, that was a bizarro Miami-FSU game. What a game. Jacory Harris has some potential if he can get coached up.

yes I missed that. What was the final straw? Well the college game threads certainly will be different.

Is Meph perma-banned?

Vikings cut John David Booty. Keeping Sage and Tarvaris, no word on who is #2 yet.

Remember Leon Lett? I'm surprised you guys are hammering the Iowa players for not touching the ball. That's what you're coached to do in pretty much all levels of football. Here's the thing: Probably 98% of all field goals kicked are on 4th down. Probably 90% of all blocked field goals either get deflected and go downfield where they can't be advanced by kicking team OR go backwards. This was just a 1 in a million situation. If the kick advances past the line of scrimmage at any point, the defense is taught to not touch it. If they do, it's a live ball and the kicking team can recover for a first down. i'm, like, 100% sure it went past the line of scrimmage anyway I obviously couldn't tell at the game and haven't seen a replay that really gives a good angle. I honestly think it almost went completely lateral but could be wrong. It was just a total fluke play in a really weird situation. In hindsight if they fall on the ball, game over. But Hunter and others did what everyone is coached to do on a play like that, I can't fault them. How does our clock operator not let that final second run off the clock anyways?

Remember Leon Lett? I'm surprised you guys are hammering the Iowa players for not touching the ball. That's what you're coached to do in pretty much all levels of football. Here's the thing: Probably 98% of all field goals kicked are on 4th down. Probably 90% of all blocked field goals either get deflected and go downfield where they can't be advanced by kicking team OR go backwards. This was just a 1 in a million situation. If the kick advances past the line of scrimmage at any point, the defense is taught to not touch it. If they do, it's a live ball and the kicking team can recover for a first down. Anyways, we really need to hope that getting Calloway and Vandervelde back on the o-line make a big difference. And that Brinson or Wegher can get/stay healthy and step up. We were brutal up front today. Stanzi was really good in the 2nd half. Spievey is a stud, other CB spot is weak right now. Linebackers underperformed. But in the 2nd quarter when it was clear it would be a battle, I said I wouldn't care how ugly it was as long as we avoided total national embarrassment with a loss. UNI might not lose again this year.

For a 2nd-3rd back you're probably better off getting a young guy who will be waived than a washed up guy on the wrong side of 30. Ian Johnson from Boise State will be waived by the Vikings tomorrow.

He previously had an indefinite suspension for not following team rules and was kicked out of a practice this training camp because he was out of control. There very likely was more but that's just what was mentioned last night. This wasn't just a momentary slip. He jacked his own teammate who was trying to calm him down and went altogether bazerk for 10 minutes.

That's a good move. If he just threw the punch I might say give him a couple games. But then he punched his own teammate, was trying to get after the fans and required about 8 different people to get him under control.

That would be the third this preseason? That has to be unprecedented. Runaway egotism or willingness to admit a mistake? I think it's ego in the case of Haley. Or just a bad fit with a holdover. Unless it's just a smear campaign, Morris just made a big mistake and they were willing to admit it. Jauron is on the hot seat this year and knows it. I'm guessing he's panicking a little or it was a move ordered from above.

He obviously was talking junk after the game. But Blount had that coming to him after his comments leading up to the game.

Wow I just saw part of the interview with Blount after the game. As if there were any doubt, he's not very bright. "I will be sportsmanship this time."

i doubt it was the n bomb, unless the boise st guy wants to get a beat down by about 50 of his teammates. it was probably just trash talk about blount's ass-whuppin comment and blount hauled off and slugged him. he'd get suspended for that, but then going after fans and his own teammates? i'd think that would get him a harsher punishment from the team/university. Blount looks like a total class act. i liked him hopping around after he did it and then pushing his teammates. way to be a complete d-bag. They never replayed where he jacked his teammate. He had his helmet on, but he threw a punch at his face also.

You'll still play outstanding next week and we'll play poorly.