If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times, the NFL is built for everyone to be .500. Every team can spend the same amount, the worst teams from the year before are given the easiest possible schedule and the best draft picks. But as you can tell by the first seven weeks this season parity isn't what the NFL is giving us. The Raiders, Browns, Rams, Chiefs, Bucs and Lions are absolutely terrible with no light at the end of the tunnel it would seem. The Redskins, Titans and Panthers seem to have some pieces but for various reasons all are playing like shit and a turn around isn't likely for this season at least. What makes things worse is that we now have a distinct difference in quality between the top tier, middle tier and the bottom feeders. Yesterday the Colts, a top notch club beat the Rams 42-6 this score isn't alarming however when you have a club like the Jets who are firmly in the middle of the pack beating a Raiders club 38-0 you have issues. Nothing more can be done and this epidemic may just be cyclical but it makes for some miserable football watching when the closest game for the week is a 24-21 Texans Win over the 49ers only because the 49ers came back from a double digit deficit to make it close.
College Football historically hasn't sold parity. College Football has promoted dynasties. USC of the 70's the Hurricanes of the 80's and so on. Every once in a while a bottom feeder conference school or a Non-BCS conference school would produce a upset and it would cast just enough doubt on these elite programs that the thought of an upset wasn't unthinkable to fans. The times are changing in College Football and I emphatically believe that this trend is becoming the norm. Take Saturday for example the Top 2 ranked teams in the country faced bottom tier conference squads the Gators came out with a 29-19 Win which wasn't indicative of the game while the Tide of Alabama needed 4 missed FG from Tennessee to earn a 12-10 Win at Home. From my Top 25 this Week 9 of them won by 7 or less and not a one of those games involved two Top 25 teams.
I realize that Pro Football has more parity than College Football from the bottom to Top but if you keep things relative College Football is more competitive and has far more parity right now than the NFL. Their is more of a gap between the Colts and the Rams than with Florida and California which is a top 30-40 program. As I stated last week their is little difference from teams 10-40 in college football while the NFL drop off appeared very apparent in the Jets Raiders matchup or Cleveland and Green Bay. The NFL lives by the slogan On Any Given Sunday promoting the parity amongst all 30 teams. The slogan is merely words at this point. However a game where the upset is still possible and a last minute comeback drive can still be seen is now found on Saturday. Check your local listings.
* This may ruffle a few feathers but the Pac-10 may surpass the SEC this year for best conference. We will have to see the bowl results to determine this but without a doubt the SEC as a whole is playing a very boring offensive style of football while the PAC-10 can score on anyone and is certainly the more exciting watch. I realize that the SEC is Defense first but facing those offenses each week will lead to a high D ranking. Face the likes of a Oregon or Oregon State each week and see where those numbers are. The SEC is top heavier but the Pac 10 has more depth.
* Sam Bradfords misfortune will screw the fans of every top Junior QB who want just "one more year" from here on out. Take Jimmy Clausen and Jake Locker for example both are likely to be 2 of the top 3 QB's in next years draft and both are sure 1st round selections. Let's say both are projected to be top 10 picks. Given Bradfords injuries this season do you think either will bypass the money and return to school for a senior season? I am sure other Junior QB's will follow Bradford but now more will not even consider that option.
* The Irish are once again the Catholic Lords of Football. GO IRISH.
*The Weekly Derek Anderson stat line: 12-29 99yds. 1INT.... As they used to say on those Thursday Nights at 1896 "Quinn to Win, Quinn to Win" or was that "Skin to Win" alcohol has effected my long term memory. Anderson Updates will run until Boygini puts in the Greek God of Looks, Brady Quinn.
*Of the slate of NFL games this week only the Vikings/Steelers game was intruiging until the end. The Vikings seem to pass the ball to often when you have a weapon such as Peterson. The Steelers Defense finally showed up and made some big time plays down the stretch. For the first time all season the Steelers looked like the Super Bowl Winners from last year.
* The World Series is set with the Yankees and Phillies about to square off. I prefer the Phillies in this matchup. The Phillies have the better fielding team and are more versatile on offense. They can swipe bases when needed and will get on base more often than the Angels did to take advantage of Posadas lack of defense. The Yankees have the better stable of pitchers but Lee and Hammels should be enough to capture the second consecutive title for the Phillies.
10 comments:
The statement that there is a bigger difference in the first and last ranked team in the NFL vs. college football is the silliest thing you have ever....ever written.
One premise.... there are thousands more college football players that go to a vast larger number of teams that compete at a variety of levels. Therefore, the disparity is more likely to be greater. The parity will be the same because the rules of the game are the same for competing team.
If you would take the time to read the whole post I acknowledge just that........"I realize that Pro Football has more parity than College Football from the bottom to Top but if you keep things relative College Football is more competitive and has far more parity right now than the NFL." In D 1 football there is something like 120 team compared to the 30 in the NFL. So if you take college teams 1-40 in my mind their is less seperation than from team 1-30in the NFL. Take the time to read everything before throwing stones.
Josh Coleman
64/60 Commissioner
Josh,
No need to get emotional. Let's keep it professional.
I read the whole thing and you contradicted yourself in the same sentence. You "realize" one thing, then admit it is not true in the same sentence with little support for your claim.
"In my mind..."? You can't simply state your opinion without any serious support and expect anyone to believe it.
"Right now..."? Why would it change?
You leave too many holes in your arguments. This is why I question them.
My response to you is the same one I give to Christians ... prove it.
Jesse
I would also like to hear some compelling argument as to why the PAC-10 is better than the SEC this year.
Some facts not just "The PAC 10 offenses are better than the SEC defenses." That is meaningless without numbers.
Thanks.
Jesse
Once again read what I wrote. "This may ruffle a few feathers but the Pac-10 may surpass the SEC this year for best conference. We will have to see the bowl results to determine this but without a doubt the SEC as a whole is playing a very boring offensive style of football while the PAC-10 can score on anyone and is certainly the more exciting watch." I did not claim the Pac 10 was better but I do feel that the Pac 10 has more quality teams this year. I stated that we would have to wait to see the bowl results (which provide some indication as to the value of a conference). I love your participation but put down the $7 dollar coffee and the latest copy of Wine Digest and take time to read the entire post.
Thanks,
Josh Coleman
64/60 Commissioner
Josh,
Good one on the coffee but you DID imply that the PAC-10 was better than the SEC ("boring""PAC-10 can score on anyone".) Again, I'll repeat, I read the article.
I shouldn't have put better in quotations as that implied you said it, which you didn't. Apologies.
Now...
You are just speculating. You have no proof that the SEC offense is boring or for that matter that the PAC-10 offense can score on anyone. Yet, you are using this to make a claim that it is possible that the PAC-10 may surpass the SEC as the best conference.
All I am asking is that you explain to me how you got to PAC-10 surpassing the SEC from boring offenses and the ability to score on anyone.
Also, you should look up the word parity because you are using it incorrectly.
That would require a $7 dictionary.
Jesse
LOL....I rarely find anything Coleman says to be amusing....But, the coffee and wine digest was classic.
Let it be known that I have never paid $7 for a coffee and although, I would be interested in reading more about wine (only for the reason of impressing women), I have not read Wine Digest.
But yes, it was pretty funny.
Nice one Coleman.
"I did not claim the Pac 10 was better but I do feel that the Pac 10 has more quality teams this year."
How does that not equal you claiming the PAC-10 is better?
You are the master of self contradiction.
Jesse
As in sex,
silence is consent.
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