Dirty Dozen Rankings - Week 1
by Beergut on Sep 8, 2010 3:17 PM CDT
in Big 12 Conference: Football
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PrintOur weekly rankings of all Big 12 teams. We have one weekend of non-conference games to base our rankings on, so we're dealing with limited information here. This is simply based on where I think these teams are right now, and not a power ranking. Given that we only have one week of information to go on, this week is a crapshoot. As always, comments and criticism are welcome.
- Texas A&M: Solid win on both sides of the ball against inferior competition.
- Nebraska: Would have put them #1, but a Nebraska fan talked me out of it.
- Kansas State: Showed a weakness on run defense, but had a nice win against UCLA.
- Missouri: Solid win over Illinois.
- Oklahoma State: Scored more points than any other conference team this weekend.
- texas: Struggled with Rice. Rice?
- Oklahoma: Giving up over 300 yards passing to Utah State drops you to second division status.
- Baylor: Solid win over Sam Houston State, RGIII is back.
- Texas Tech: New coaches, new attitude, same poor defense.
- Iowa State: Solid win over Northern Illinois, just don't trust Austen Arnaud.
- Colorado: Even after a blowout win over CSU, this is still a Dan Hawkins-coached team.
- Kansas: No explanation necessary.
Notes: I was all set to put Nebraska at #1 until a friend told me they had defensive issues against Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky hasn't beaten a D-IA team since they moved up to play with the big boys three years ago, so any struggles against them is a concern. The 'Huskers play Idaho this week, so we're not likely to get a read on this team yet...... A&M looked good on offense and defense against an inferior opponent in SFA. It was the first time in a very long time that the Aggies played with discipline on defense. Already boasting the conference's most talented offense, adding a defense could make this team a favorite to take the conference. It is only one game, though, so I'm keeping my enthusiasm in check......Kansas State didn't stop UCLA's run game much, but when you gash the opposing defense for over 300 yards rushing, it doesn't matter much. Very impressive win over a BCS conference opponent, a rarity for Snyder to open with......I watched the first half of the Missouri game, and remarked that they still had defensive issues. The Tigers then went and pitched a shutout in the second half, and came back to win the game. Impressive......Initially, I'm tempted to give Oklahoma State more credit for beating up on a BCS conference team in their opener, but it was Washington State. As miketag said on our radio show, Washington State is the slumpbuster you go see if you want to feel good about your offense......texas couldn't run the ball when they needed to on Rice. RICE. texas still has issues on their offensive line, and looks like they could drop three games this season, especially if they don't figure out a way to score more often. After the first quarter was over, the score was Rice 3 texas 0. That isn't how a top 10 teams plays......Watching OU's secondary and Landry Jones' poor play against Utah State makes me think the Sooners are in for another long season......It is nice to see Robert Griffin III back on the field and in uniform. Baylor dominated throughout against Sam Houston St, making Griffin's return a victorious one......I guess James Willis, Texas Tech's defensive coordinator, was right when he said they didn't have the personnel to run his scheme in Lubbock. SMU was able to run and pass at will in the fourth quarter of their loss to Tech. More importantly, Tech, who used to dominate the fourth quarter of games (at least on offense), was held without a score in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Add in Taylor Potts' inconsistency, and it is hard to rank this team any higher.....I don't trust Austen Arnaud to not cost them a game. I love what Paul Rhoads is doing in Ames, but Arnaud is going to cost State a game this year that they should win......I need to see more from Colorado and Dan Hawkins before I put them up in the rankings. We'll know more about this team after they play at California this weekend......There are already fans calling for Turner Gill's head. They can't say we didn't warn them.
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Heard RGIII was noticeably favoring his repaired knee in the BU game.
by miketag on Sep 8, 2010 3:28 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
A&M #1? Not yet.
Is this list a potential list or based solely on performance to date?
If it’s performance to date (and not potential, and this list doesn’t look like a potential list or texas and OU wouldn’t be so low) I think you have to put Missouri or K-State on top. They won out in hard fought games against the two toughest (and BCS) opponents. I don’t know that you can gather much from the A&M game, we did exactly what we were supposed to do. I’m not sure how much we really learned about our defense.
Beating a BCS conference team is worth something, even if it’s a hard win. I’d put texas above A&M and Nebraska except their offense looked truly awful. Their defense is going to be great this year, but I didn’t see enough to put them ahead, after one game, of 2 teams that did what they were supposed to. OU had all sorts of problems, but a win over FSU vaults them to the top of this list next week with what would be the best win in the conference to date. The rest of the bottom will probably stay the same. I’m not sold on SMU or June Jones, but by midseason it may look as if Texas Tech should be higher on the list based on that win (4th?).
Reminder: performance to date, not end of season results, below
1. Missouri
2. Kansas State
3. Oklahoma State
4. Nebraska
5. Texas A&M
6. texas
7. OU
8. Texas Tech
9. Baylor
10. Iowa State
11. Colorado
12. Kansas
Meat? They're made out of Meat? Meat.
End of Year prediction
1. texas
2. Nebraska
3. Texas A&M
4. OU
5. Missouri
6. Kansas State
7. Oklahoma State
8. Texas Tech
9. Baylor
10. Kansas
11. Iowa State
12. Colorado
Meat? They're made out of Meat? Meat.
by ihavethemelody on Sep 8, 2010 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions
lol
I’d really like to be as enthusiastic, but until we beat texas on thanksgiving I’m still nervous. If we don’t win the Big 12 this year we won’t have another realistic shot until 2012 or 2013 with whoever the new QB is. Especially with texas having to break in a new (and mediocre against rice) QB. A good 9 – 10 win season with a bowl win this year and I don’t feel as bad about hiring Sherman over the coaches at TCU or Boise 3 years ago.
Meat? They're made out of Meat? Meat.
by ihavethemelody on Sep 8, 2010 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions
performance to date
Only issue with Missouri is that they were down by two scores at halftime to a Ron Zook-coached team. I still wonder about their defense……K-State’s run defense is very suspect, which is why I docked them. Both won terrific games to open the season, but also showed big weaknesses, which is why I dropped them a notch….A&M would have put up over 800 yds and 70 points on that Washington State defense, they were that bad. SFA is better than Washington State, and that is not hyperbole.
If OU beats FSU, I’ll put them on the top of this list, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to do that.
June Jones is actually a genius at his offense; he was Mike Leach (winning against superior competition despite disadvantages b/c of offensive scheme that maximizes talent) before there was a Mike Leach.
I don't believe this for one nano second
SFA is better than Washington State, and that is not hyperbole.
It’s entirely possible for a D1AA school to be better than D1A school. Whether that’s the case with WSU and SFA I cannot comment, but it’s definitely not impossible nor really improbable.
I agree
See Michigan and Appalachian State.
But if they played 10 times, I bet Washington State wins at LEAST 6 times. Maybe in the perfect storm, SFA can beat Washington State (as App st did to Michigan) but SFA isn’t the football team Washington State is, due to the level of athletes, and coaching.
SFA has better coaching than Wazzu
especially on defense
As for the level of athletes, if you can start for a D-IAA team, you are good enough to make the traveling squad of a D-IA team. If you are a star at DI-AA, you are good enough to start at D-IA.
The big difference between the two is scholarships, where D-IA get 85, and DI-AA get 65; that effects your depth.
App St/SFA, etc
I think Michigan would have beaten App State 9/10 had they played 10 more games. App State was a fine team that year, no doubt, but Michigan should have won the game.
As to SFA/WSU, they haven’t played each other heads up so it’s impossible to say. I still say that it’s possible for SFA to be a better overall team than WSU this year. Or for another very good 1AA school to be better overall than some 1A basement dweller. Theory is fun!
The offense
isn’t what anyone is worried about, it’s the Aggie defense that is under the microscope.
I think we learned the offense is about the same as last year, but with the need to see some deep balls from Jerrod before that’s official.
As to the defense: We learned we’re better than we were last year at this point of the season, nothing else.
Meat? They're made out of Meat? Meat.
by ihavethemelody on Sep 8, 2010 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree
I was just countering Mike’s silly point with a silly one of my own.
While I didn’t get to watch the game, from reading beer’s review and some of my Aggie friends telling me about the game, the defense is much better at this point of the season than last year and they are playing with more intensity.
the offense seemed a bit disjointed to me
OL appeared better (we could not block anyone at the beginning of last season) and we showed a couple of new weapons.
If tu sticks with this run first offense they will not win the conference (even as weak as it may be this year).
My real question is, is Landry Jones that mediocre?
Got to agree with this
If Texas sticks with this run first offense they will not win the conference (even as weak as it may be this year).
Although I believe Texas will utilize the run game to set up the passing game. It seemed to me that 1 of 3 things was happening with the Texas offense against Rice:
1. They don’t want to reveal too much of the offense before the real meat of the schedule.
2. They are worried about GG and don’t want to overwhelm him
3. They wanted to be stubborn in the run game to get real in game practice for the OL and backs.
I’m hoping that it is more of 1 & 3 than #2. They need to open up the playbook more than they did last week because if the first time this team faces real adversity is in Lubbock, they could be in for a beat down. I believe the running game will be better than last year, but our offense will revolve around how well GG can throw the ball, and if anyone in the WR corps can be consistent.
"not wanting to reveal too much"
doesn’t excuse their offensive lines’ inability to dominate against RICE.
x
I think UT spent last week figuring out what they have on the run. I think they are significantly less worried about Gilbert and passing more throughout the season than they are with their backs. Better figure it out now, rather than say, vs. Tech in a couple of weeks.
When you say
this is where you think the teams are right now, could you elaborate a little bit more on what this means?
Where the teams are…in terms of what? What you saw on the field? Living up to preseason expectations?
This is why I visit this site at least once a week
For gems like this;
“Already boasting the conference’s most talented offense, adding a defense could make this team a favorite to take the conference.”
God, I love Aggies. I’m just glad that there are still optimistic Aggies out there who can actually take away anything positive from a victory over a SFA team that got destroyed 51-0 by Monfreakingtana last time they played football.
For the record SMU was the best opponent played by a Big 12 team in the opening week, they’ll win 8+ games and play in a bowl game which I can’t say for any of the other Big 12 opponents at this point.
This is why tech fans still make me smile.
A&M does have the most talented offense in the conference and you would be hard pressed to find anyone that would disagree. An offense that ranked 5th in the nation and returns all of its skill positions. Not to mention the Oline looks better than it did a year ago.
SFA also finished 10-3 last year and is ranked anywhere from 5th to 8th in the FCS. And while it is still the FCS they are talented team.
And for the record SMU wasn’t even close to the best opponent played by a big twelve team. UCLA was better, I would argue Illinois is probably better. I mean youre talking about a team that lost to Washington State and Marshall last year. keep in mind wins are important but in some conferences they are harder to achieve than others.
by The Calvinator on Sep 8, 2010 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions
and this
SMU was the best opponent played by a Big 12 team in the opening week
is how everyone knows you went to Tech
Eeeek
Unfortunately, gotta agree with the gut. SMU is the best opponent a Big 12 team played?? Really??
10 win team last year, FWIW.
"Back in Irish's day you had to kill a man before you were taken seriously in polite society." - Aquaman56 06/25/10
They went to a bowl, but they were not a ten win team. Seven wins in the regular season, bowl win over Nevada. The Ponies haven’t won ten games since I was four months old. I like it that way.
Hadn't been to a bowl in forever, too.
When I was at SMU Law, they didn’t win a game from the end of my first year until my THIRD year. It was desolate.
you were there for the Bennett years, huh?
Good salesman, okay defensive coach, but a horrific head coach.
UCLA
probably won’t win a football game until October and has a very good chance of winning less than 4 games all year. You obviously haven’t looked at their schedule, you just don’t know your football if you’re trying to argue UCLA will win 8+ and go to a bowl game.
Illinois went 3-9 last year, but yeah I’m sure you’re right they’re a lock for 8+ and a bowl game, and they would destroy SMU.
Next?
Like calvinator already said
I mean youre talking about a team [SMU] that lost to Washington State and Marshall last year. keep in mind wins are important but in some conferences they are harder to achieve than others.
As in it is harder to become bowl eligible in BCS conferences as opposed to Conference USA. Do you think SMU would be bowl eligible if they played the schedule that Illinois does?
x
Comparing teams in 3 separate conferences solely on their 2009 W-L records is quite simply retarded.
I think the Techian is just trying to rationalize the lack of running game and dominating defense they were promised.
Tech will be fine as long as they can keep pressure off Potts. When he gets pressured, he sucks. Unfortunately, I think this means tu will beat Tech.
by miketag on Sep 10, 2010 2:27 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I think the Techian is just trying to rationalize the lack of running game and dominating defense they were promised.
No not really. SMU is a solid team this year, and will be the only Big 12 opening game opponent that will win 8+ games and go to a bowl game.
Not just my opinion either.
“First off, this was a really solid SMU football team, drastically improved from the last time they came to Lubbock. Their skill position players didn’t impress me so much, but they have some quality talent on both sides up front. LT Kelvin Beachum could start at any program in the Big 12. The battle between Beachum and Brian Duncan was one of the more enjoyable sub-plots for football enthusiasts. Duncan didn’t steal his cookies by running around Beachum. RT J. T. Brooks is nasty and violent player, which ups his stock in my rating system. While undersized, C Blake McJunkin was scrappy, could move around little and a fine technician. Our sacks and pressure were the result of LB blitzes, stunts and good coverage. The SMU OL was really well coached and I think they’ll give the Mustangs a chance against TCU. They would also be an upgrade for many Big 12 teams.
The Pony DL was big and strong with good athleticism as a group. Hunt seemed to receive all the ink, but I was more impressed with Thompson on the other side. He gave Chris Olson all he wanted. They do a nice job of occupying blockers in the run game for an undersized and active LB corps. I won’t be surprised, if they win 9 or 10 games this season and are considered a solid victory by year end. No one seems to be giving SMU credit for the quality of squad they’re fielding in 2010. They’ll beat Rice by 3 TDs. The trio of Hunt, Frazier and Thompson would either be starting or logging serious minutes at every Big 12 program outside of Austin. We’ll only play 2 or 3 more teams this season, who will be as well-rounded on both sides of the ball in the trenches."
http://tortillaretort.fantake.com/2010/09/07/smu-post-mortem-a-win-is-a-win/
Ahh yes
quote another Tech fan to prove your point.
SMU is a solid team this year, and will be the only Big 12 opening game opponent that will win 8+ games and go to a bowl game.
You still have yet to respond to the fact that winning 8+ games is way easier in Conference USA than in a BCS conference (save maybe the Big East).
So please, stop spewing this “SMU will win 8+ games” b.s. No one is buying that because SMU may win 8 games or more, they were the best opening team a big 12 team played. Get over it.
the next time you want to prop up one of your questionable opinions
don’t quote another Tech fan, especially not a delusional hack who thinks the time he spent playing offensive line in a podunk high school makes him an authority on all things football.
It makes me laugh....
When amateur bloggers throw out terms like “hack” in regards to other amateur bloggers. Even funnier than that is when any Aggie throws out the term “delusional” in regards to anyone else.
Oh well, I guess these guys http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/polls/120/index2, and these guys http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1094845, are delusional hacks as well, since they both agree SMU is better than UCLA, and Illinois.
a preseason poll?
Seriously, did you really go to Tech?
Did you ever take a class on Logic? Or any class on basic argumentation?
Your inability to argue which is leaving you grasping at straws to support your opinions is almost painful to watch.
Here is an idea: Why don’t you go post a poll on DTN on which non-conference opponent is better, then come back here and use that as evidence to support your opinion; it makes as much sense as using a preseason poll from Rivals.
You have A&M ranked #1 in your "weekly ranking",
but tell me that I need to take a class on Logic? You’ve got to install some kind of irony meter app on this site.
Bwaaaa !!
OU … " second division status " ……………… bwahahaha
You actually believed what you saw in that opening game . You took what you saw and ran with it, and all you got was a nugget of fools gold.
" If OU beats FSU, I’ll put them on the top of this list, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to do that. " …………………………. BWAHAHAHA ………………… this site is too good to be true, keep up the good work, I need a laugh every now and then.
OMGZZZLOL BWAAWHAAA!!!
Where was all your bravado and shit talking last week, chump?
Speaks volumes of your own confidence in the OU program that you didn’t even pipe up until a day after the Sooners put a beating on Florida State.
this site is too good to be true
Must be, considering it’s the only SBNation site you’ve joined. No love for the Crimson and Cream Machine? Or do they not tolerate bumper sticker fans and trolls over there?
by dallastros_fan on Sep 13, 2010 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
I was wondering when you'd show up
you were noticeably absent all week after OU’s poor performance against Utah State
par for the course for you
when the going get tough for OU, Dollar disappears
Bwaaaaaa
I’ve been noticeably absent from this place for about ……………. FOREVER !!
BWAhahahaha
You people are tooooo much humor .
LMAO !!
I don’t visit here to talk, I visit this place to LAUGH
BWAHAHAHA
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