Friday, September 30, 2005
AU Preview: South Carolina
Steve Spurrier makes his return to the plains this week, as the South Carolina Gamecocks visit Auburn. South Carolina comes in with a record of 3-2, with 2 conference losses to Georgia (a close game in Athens), and Alabama (taken behind the woodshed in South Carolina). Statistically, South Carolina brings both offensive and defensive units that are inferior to those of Auburn.
South Carolina's main problem appears to be the complete lack of a running game, as they have a very accurate passing game to rely on, which one would expect with Spurrier calling the shots. The Auburn Tigers have not allowed any points in the 1st half of the last 3 games (playing joke teams helps, but ya know...), and the secondary may be in for a challenge against USC to keep that streak going.
As per secsports.com, here are South Carolina's 4 "key players."
PK/P Josh Brown (Sr.)
Brown is one of those rare athletes who handles both the punting duties as well as the kicks on field goals and extra points... He has converted all three of his field goal attempts this season and is 13-of-18 in his career with a long of 43 yards...Brown is averaging 39.3 yards per punt with four of his 18 punts downed inside the 20.
Yeah, their 1st key player is a kicker/punter. A good sign for Auburn.
LB Ricardo Hurley (Sr.)
For the season he has logged 28 stops, including four tackles for loss.
QB Blake Mitchell (So.)
Mitchell has been the primary signal-caller for the Gamecocks this season..Mitchell suffered a high left ankle sprain against Troy and is listed as doubtful for Saturday's SEC contest at Auburn...If Mitchell can't go, Antonio Heffner would make the start at quarterback...Mitchell and Heffner combined to complete 17-of-23 passes for 268 yards and three TDs with no interceptions last week versus Troy.
ROV Ko Simpson (So.)
USC's only pre-season all-conference selection and has been named to numerous pre-season all- America squads... He is regarded as the top safety in America and a first team all-America by The Sporting News and is on the Watch List for the Bronco Nagurski Award... Simpson was named the SEC Freshman of the Year by the Associated Press and was a Freshman all-American last season after logging six interceptions, tying for the SEC lead and tying for third nationally...
So, their running game sucks, and their 1st string QB is injured. Good times. The key for Auburn will be to avoid turning the ball over and making the defense stay out on the field too long against USC's efficient passing game...assuming that the backup QB is up to the task, that is. The game is scheduled to be on ESPN2 at 6PM Central, and I shall be attending courtesy of Bubba and the Vet School keeping Nicole busy! Yay homework! (I'm kidding...mostly)
Jason's Prediction: Auburn 24, South Carolina 10
South Carolina's main problem appears to be the complete lack of a running game, as they have a very accurate passing game to rely on, which one would expect with Spurrier calling the shots. The Auburn Tigers have not allowed any points in the 1st half of the last 3 games (playing joke teams helps, but ya know...), and the secondary may be in for a challenge against USC to keep that streak going.
As per secsports.com, here are South Carolina's 4 "key players."
PK/P Josh Brown (Sr.)
Brown is one of those rare athletes who handles both the punting duties as well as the kicks on field goals and extra points... He has converted all three of his field goal attempts this season and is 13-of-18 in his career with a long of 43 yards...Brown is averaging 39.3 yards per punt with four of his 18 punts downed inside the 20.
Yeah, their 1st key player is a kicker/punter. A good sign for Auburn.
LB Ricardo Hurley (Sr.)
For the season he has logged 28 stops, including four tackles for loss.
QB Blake Mitchell (So.)
Mitchell has been the primary signal-caller for the Gamecocks this season..Mitchell suffered a high left ankle sprain against Troy and is listed as doubtful for Saturday's SEC contest at Auburn...If Mitchell can't go, Antonio Heffner would make the start at quarterback...Mitchell and Heffner combined to complete 17-of-23 passes for 268 yards and three TDs with no interceptions last week versus Troy.
ROV Ko Simpson (So.)
USC's only pre-season all-conference selection and has been named to numerous pre-season all- America squads... He is regarded as the top safety in America and a first team all-America by The Sporting News and is on the Watch List for the Bronco Nagurski Award... Simpson was named the SEC Freshman of the Year by the Associated Press and was a Freshman all-American last season after logging six interceptions, tying for the SEC lead and tying for third nationally...
So, their running game sucks, and their 1st string QB is injured. Good times. The key for Auburn will be to avoid turning the ball over and making the defense stay out on the field too long against USC's efficient passing game...assuming that the backup QB is up to the task, that is. The game is scheduled to be on ESPN2 at 6PM Central, and I shall be attending courtesy of Bubba and the Vet School keeping Nicole busy! Yay homework! (I'm kidding...mostly)
Jason's Prediction: Auburn 24, South Carolina 10
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Support your local furry animals.
Just a quick reminder - Aubie, everyone's favorite ladies man (I gotta get a tail like that - the chicks dig it), needs your help yet again in the Capital One All America Mascot Team Challenge Thingie Contest Deal.The winner of the deal gets 5000 bucks for their mascot program. This is Aubie's third stradight year being nomiated to the "team" out of, what is it, 117 Div1A schools?
Vote once a day! Or, if you're feeling creative: vote, delete all your cookies, and repeat. The voting is always very tight (due to the fact that you have to vote for one or the other from 6 pairs, and 1000 votes is often the margin of victory each week), so help out our furry friend...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
What It Means To Wear The Badge.
Huzzah! A bit of good news (finally!) to share. Next Monday, I begin my training as a Geek Squad Agent! Yes, that means I'll be wearing the whole uniform deal.
Seeing as there are Geek Squad precincts all over America, I ought to be able to transfer to another location somewhere after I put my time in at the Baton Rouge precinct.
This couldn't have happened at a more dire time... I was this close to going back to being a cashier. Work is that hard to get in this town right now. And I think that working at the Squad will really raise my quality of life right now, too.
Sometimes, good stuff happens just when you need it to....
Catch Them If You Can
Cadillac is at it again, and he's not the only one this week!
Cadillac Williams set a new NFL record for rushing yards in the first 3 games of a career with a 37 carry, 158 yard performance in Tampa Bay's 17-16 win against the Green Bay Packers this afternoon. That's an average of 4.3 yards per carry. That gives him a total average of 4.93 yards per carry to start his NFL career.
However, Cadillac isn't the only alum we should be proud of today.
Ronnie Brown rushed for 132 yards on 23 carries with 1 TD
in Miami's 27-24 win over the Carolina Panthers. That's a mind-numbing 5.73 yards per carry against an excellent defense, behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.
Now all of America is seeing what we've had the pleasure of watching for the last 3 years.
Cadillac Williams set a new NFL record for rushing yards in the first 3 games of a career with a 37 carry, 158 yard performance in Tampa Bay's 17-16 win against the Green Bay Packers this afternoon. That's an average of 4.3 yards per carry. That gives him a total average of 4.93 yards per carry to start his NFL career.
However, Cadillac isn't the only alum we should be proud of today.
Ronnie Brown rushed for 132 yards on 23 carries with 1 TD
in Miami's 27-24 win over the Carolina Panthers. That's a mind-numbing 5.73 yards per carry against an excellent defense, behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.
Now all of America is seeing what we've had the pleasure of watching for the last 3 years.
