NFL Football Statistics

25/01/08

FUMBLE!

By PAULINE HYLTON Special to the Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

Last season was tough for my fantasy football team.

I didn't make it to the playoffs so I fired my general manager, Tom. (I retained him as my husband, however. Twenty-five years counts for something.)

In retaliation this year, Tom assembled his own team, the Leviathens, and our family of four competed head to head along with four other competitors.

The prize? A Wal-Mart football with the signatures of the previous years' champions.

More important, though, I was playing for pride. I was determined to beat Tom and show him I could win on my own.

Things started off on a positive note in September. When we tallied up our totals from the first week of the National Football League season, I came in first, and Tom was last.

That's right. After hours of planning and studying enough for an honorary degree, he had lost to his wife. A woman. Me.

"That's OK, Tom. You can live vicariously through me," I offered with a subtle smirk.

I didn't know then that it was the first of only two wins all season.

I honestly don't understand what went wrong. Was it faulty information from the experts?

I didn't follow my heart as I did last year. I followed the statistics and made my picks based on the advice of a popular sports magazine.

I had "Pretty Boy" Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' defense, but other than that, my team stunk!

My fantasy team also had its share of injuries, including my best receiver, Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts. Sure, his knee hurt and was facing the wrong way - but couldn't he still have played?!

I was a hard-working team owner. Week by week, I followed the NFL schedule and adjusted my players accordingly. Every Sunday, at our weekly football party, I watched three games simultaneously (via DirecTV and three cheap TV sets). I also followed StatTracker on the laptop along with the other team owners. When Frank Gore ran 10 yards for the San Francisco 49ers, I knew I'd scored a point. When Neil Rackers (named the NFL's sexiest man by Fox Sports) scored a field goal for the Arizona Cardinals, up popped my three-point addition.

I went from the heights of elation, which forced me to eat a chicken wing, to the depths of despair, which led me to eat more chicken wings. The weekly competitions were nerve-wracking and fattening.

Each Tuesday before school, my 16-year-old son, Micah, would greet me by asking who won the Monday night game. Then he would race to the computer to check his stats. Micah made the playoffs, but it was apparent by Week 10 that my daughter, Sarah, and I would not be moving on after the regular season.

By then, Tom's record was much better than mine. "That's OK, Pauline," he said. "You can live vicariously through me."

Ouch.

Tom made it to our fantasy league's championship game. His opponent was our league commissioner. Grudgingly, the kids and I decided blood was thicker than water and we would root for Tom.

The win hinged on the regular season's final Monday night game. Tom and the rest of the family went to bed early while I persevered to the wee hours of the morning - chicken wings in hand - to cheer for my husband. I fell asleep on the couch before the game ended and crawled to bed at 1 a.m.

The next morning, I eagerly suggested we check the stats to see whether he had won.

"I got up at 4 and checked. I won." Tom said. "Pretty amazing story: An unemployed GM gets his own team and goes straight to the Super Bowl."

I'm thinking fantasy football isn't for me. After three seasons of losing, maybe I should fire myself.

I wonder whether they'll still let me eat some of the chicken wings.

05/01/08

Final Game Preview: Jaguars at Steelers

By Charlie Bernstein
Editor-in-Chief, JagNation.com
Posted Jan 4, 2008

Final Preview for the Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC Wild Card Playoff Game

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Saturday, January 5, 2008, 8:00 p.m.

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Kickoff Temperature: 40 degrees, 40% chance of precipitation

Line: Jaguars by 2.5

Records: Jacksonville- 11-5, second place in the AFC South, Pittsburgh 10-6, AFC North Champions

Series Notes: Jaguars lead the all-time series 11-8. Jaguars have won three in a row including a 29-22 thriller last month at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

Five most important things for the Jaguars:

1. Play smart football. The Jaguars have the superior team and the only way they should be able to lose would be by turning the ball over or committing idiotic penalties. If the Jaguars hold onto the ball, they will likely advance for another week.

2. Embrace the atmosphere. The Jaguars are entering a situation which not many current players on the roster are familiar with, they're playoff favorites. Jacksonville is expected to win this game, and if they treat it like it's just another big game they'll come out fine. This team has played some it's best ball in the face of adversity, and the 65,000 or so fans at the "ketchup bottle" will certainly be adverse to the Jaguars. Embrace it and send the lesser team home for the offseason.

3. Affect Ben Roethlisberger. Ben is certainly one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and him playing well gives the Steelers pretty much the only chance they have to win this game. The Jaguars sacked him five times in the last meeting between these two teams and they came out victorious. Roethlisberger has a bad shoulder and ankle and the Jaguars defense must do their best to make him extra sore.

4. Win special teams. On paper, the Jaguars return units are more explosive than the Steelers. Pittsburgh has a slight advantage at kicker, and in the last meeting they had a major advantage at punter. The Jaguars special teams can't have any more slip-ups if they are going to get a shot at the defending champs, or the undefeated dynasty.

5. Delivery an early punch. If the Jaguars can get an early lead on Pittsburgh, especially by running the football, it could go a long way in how this game plays out. The Pittsburgh defense was flattened in the last match-up and if the Jaguars show that they can do the same thing early, Pittsburgh could fold up and pack it in.

What to look for:

1. Look for a lot of four and five wide by Pittsburgh. The Steelers will likely try to attack the Jaguars weak link, which is their pass defense. Expect to see Roethlisberger air it out early and often.

2. Look for the Jaguars to throw the ball early on. The Pittsburgh coaching staff knows how easily the Jaguars manhandled them at the line of scrimmage just three weeks ago, and they will load up the box with defenders to stop it, especially early on. David Garrard and the Jaguars can take advantage of this and move the ball through the air to loosen up the defense.

3. Look for Garrard on the move. Jacksonville's quarterback has stayed in the pocket for most of the season and has looked very good doing so. It's time to take advantage of Garrard's greatest attribute, his athleticism. Look for David to be on the move and extend drives by running with the football.

4. Look for Heath Miller to have a big day. Jacksonville did a very good job on Miller when the two teams last squared off, as the Pittsburgh tight end caught just two passes for 24 yards (including a touchdown). This time around Miller will have more of an impact.

5. Look for a big special teams play. The Steelers special teams was the dominant unit in the last match-up, mainly due to Adam Podlesh's nightmare afternoon. Look for a big return, blocked kick, or even an unexpected onside kick which could decide the outcome.

Prediction: Although the Steelers defensive statistics say they're number one in the NFL, I'm not buying. They've had big problems tackling and covering, and without defensive end Aaron Smith, they're just a different team. Offensively, Ben Roethlisberger is a great quarterback and not a game manager, and his 5-1 career playoff record should not be taken lightly. That being said, Jacksonville is better on both sides of the ball and if they don't turn the ball over, they should win.

18/12/07

Record-setting offence has Jacksonville Jaguars near post-season berth

3 hours ago

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Coach Jack Del Rio has talked incessantly about building a potent offence in Jacksonville.

He finally has one. Buoyed by quarterback David Garrard and running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars have set franchise records by gaining at least 400 yards in four consecutive games and scoring at least 24 points in eight straight.

That's right, the Jaguars. The team a former NFL linebacker modelled after the defence-minded 2000 Baltimore Ravens has become an offensive juggernaut.

"This is a message to send to the rest of the league: we're for real," Garrard said following Sunday's 29-22 victory at Pittsburgh. "We've always said we can beat anybody. We don't want to be too bold and too brass, but we want to make sure we still have confidence and swagger going into the playoffs."

The Jaguars (10-4) have reason to brag.

They racked up 421 yards against the Steelers, the league's top-rated defence. They did it in windy, snowy, muddy - just plain sloppy - conditions, too.

Taylor ran 25 times for a season-high 147 yards and a touchdown, a 12-yarder with 1:57 remaining that essentially sealed the win and moved Jacksonville one victory shy of securing a wild-card spot for the second time in three years.

Garrard threw three TD passes, including a 55-yarder to Dennis Northcutt.

Jones-Drew added 69 yards on the ground and picked up three crucial first downs in the second half. He had a six-yard run on fourth-and-1 and a 17-yard gain on third-and-10 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Jacksonville eventually scored to take a 16-7 lead.

Jones-Drew ran for 20 more on third-and-11 to set up Taylor's game-winner.

"We've consciously built a team that can play when it's hot, can play when it's cold, can play indoors, can play outside," said Del Rio, who had an 11-year NFL career as a linebacker, making the Pro Bowl once. "There are a lot of different ways to skin a cat, but this is the way we've approached it.

"If you look at the landscape (of the NFL), it really would be foolish to approach it any other way."

Jacksonville can clinch the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs with a victory Sunday against Oakland (4-10). The Jaguars point to their offence as the biggest reason they are so close to returning to the post-season.

Taylor and Jones-Drew have combined for 1,815 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground and are the league's second-best rushing tandem, behind only Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.

Garrard has 16 touchdown passes and two interceptions, and ranks second in the NFL with a 101.6 passer rating. Only New England's Tom Brady is rated higher.

Garrard's mobility and precision passing have elevated the play of Jacksonville's offensive line (five sacks in the last six games) and receivers (five guys have at least 32 catches but no one has more than 43).

"I don't think the stats do justice to where we are as an offence and our ability to throw the football," Del Rio said. "The bottom line is I know we're better at throwing it now than we have been. And what's most important is we're going to need to be able to get that done down the stretch here to be the kind of team we need to be, that we want to be."

Jacksonville has produced at least 400 yards six times this season. Only New England (11) and Green Bay (six) have more. And the Patriots are the only other team to reach that mark in four consecutive games.

The offensive numbers have helped the Jaguars average 28.4 points over the last eight games, second in the AFC behind New England.

"Our quarterback and our receivers are making plays and doing things that give you a chance and offer some reason for optimism," Del Rio said. "We're excited about that phase developing, for sure. And there is more there. We're going to continue to work it and there is more there. It starts with protection up front and the quarterback making good decisions and receivers getting open and catching the ball. It all comes together.

"And now it's kind of coming a little bit for us, so that's good."

10/12/07

Let on-field stats, not vital statistics, determine who wins Heisman Trophy

The Associated Press

Published: December 8, 2007

Talent shouldn't require an ID.

When the Heisman Trophy winner is announced Saturday night, let's hope he really is the best player in college football this year and not just a guy who had the right birthdate. You can make several arguments for why Tim Tebow shouldn't win - Darren McFadden, Chase Daniel and Colt Brennan, to name three - but the fact Florida's quarterback is only a sophomore shouldn't be one of them.

The Heisman Trophy was created to recognize "the most outstanding college football player." Voters' ballots state candidates must be students at an accredited college or university, and that they must meet the NCAA's definition of a student-athlete.

Notice there's not a word in there about being an upperclassman or an offensive player. Yet in 72 years, the Heisman has never gone to a freshman or a sophomore. Only 16 juniors have won. Just once has a primarily defensive player taken it home.

The most talented player in the country is the most talented player in the country, regardless of how old he is or where he lines up on the field. And it's about time - past time, really - that Heisman voters acknowledge that.

"He has done things that no one else in college football has been able to do," Florida coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday night, after Tebow was named one of the four finalists.

"And I hope people realize the magnitude of his accomplishments."

Accomplishments. Not age or anything else.

This whole idea of the Heisman belonging to upperclassmen and offensive players is as antiquated as leather helmets. Considering freshmen were largely ineligible until 1972, of course upperclassmen were going to stand out in the early years of the Heisman.

It takes a very special talent to make a major impact his first year, particularly in football. The game is so physically demanding, and there's so much to learn and absorb. It used to be that players only watched and practiced their first couple of years, getting a chance to shine when those ahead of them moved on.

But times change, and the game evolves. Not only do freshmen play these days, they start. A sophomore can make just as big an impact as a fifth-year senior.

No way Arkansas makes it to last year's Southeastern Conference championship game or puts together its finest season in years if not for McFadden. A tailback who moonlighted as a receiver, kick returner and even a quarterback, he piled up 2,058 all-purpose yards. And yet he finished a whopping 1,662 votes behind Heisman winner Troy Smith, the second-widest margin in history.

Sure, Smith played on an Ohio State team that ran the table during the regular season. But he was also a senior, while McFadden was only a sophomore. Let the kid wait, the thinking seems to go, he'll have another chance. After another spectacular season, McFadden's back at Saturday's presentation.

But there are no sure things in football. There are injuries. There are bad seasons. And, unlike years ago, there's early entry into the NFL. You give me a Reggie Bush, who "waited his turn" and won it as a junior after being a finalist as a sophomore, and I'll give you a Marshall Faulk or an Adrian Peterson.

Faulk was the Heisman runner-up as a junior, then bypassed his senior year at San Diego State for the NFL. After finishing second to Matt Leinart as a sophomore, Peterson got hurt his junior year and left Oklahoma early.

The reality is the game is faster now than it used to be - on and off the field. If freshman and sophomore phenoms are going to be measured against their older teammates during the season, those same standards should apply for the spoils that come afterward.

College basketball gets that. The player of the year last season? A freshman, Kevin Durant.

The bias against defensive players is outdated, too. The defense is no longer a bunch of big guys who do little more than block the offensive line. A quick and agile end, a speedy cornerback, a ferocious linebacker - they can be just as exciting and have as big an impact on a game as a quarterback or a running back.

Yet LSU's Glenn Dorsey won't be making a trip to New York this weekend. He never even had to check into flights. Why? For the same reason LaVar Arrington and Julius Peppers were never serious threats for the trophy.

The Heisman is supposed to be for overall excellence, the player who is the best college football has to offer. Is Tim Tebow that player? Maybe, maybe not. But he - and every other underclassman who comes after him - should be judged by what he does on the field, not when he was born.

Because age really is only a number. And in football, there are others that matter much more.

Nancy Armour is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to her at narmour@ap.org

04/11/07

There's no moseying for star from Texas

LT says Vikings rookie back Peterson 'hits the hole fast'

By Jay Posner

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

November 3, 2007

LaDainian Tomlinson was the third running back born in Texas to be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. In another decade or so he's likely to become the sixth running back from Texas to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And yet, when the Chargers play the Vikings tomorrow in Minneapolis, Tomlinson won't be the lone star back from Texas. In fact, he won't even enter the game as the leading rusher from his native state.

That honor goes to Adrian Peterson, the Vikings rookie who leads more than Texas natives in rushing this season; he leads the entire NFL. Through seven games, Peterson has rushed for 740 yards, 123 more than Tomlinson, who has 11 more attempts. (Tomlinson ranks fourth, also trailing Pittsburgh's Willie Parker and Baltimore's Willis McGahee.)

Tomlinson hasn't seen a lot of Peterson, but at the same time he's seen plenty.

"He's got size and he runs with some physicalness, but he's explosive," said Tomlinson, who at 5-10, 221 pounds is 3 inches shorter and about the same weight as the 217-pound Peterson. "That's what sticks out in my mind. He hits the hole fast and he can take it all the way."

Peterson, 22, was just entering high school when Tomlinson was finishing at TCU, something the Chargers superstar found "a little weird."

"I'm at the age now where the guys that are just coming into the league are saying, 'Yeah, I watched him when I was in high school.' It's kind of funny."

Peterson is from Palestine, about 110 miles southeast of Dallas. Tomlinson was born in Rosebud but grew up in Waco, which is about 100 miles west of Palestine.

"Texas guys, we take pride in running the football," said Tomlinson, who last year joined Earl Campbell (1979) and Thurman Thomas (1991) as MVP running backs from Texas. "With all the great guys that have come before us, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Craig James - we take pride in being able to run the football and being able to brag a little bit, too."

Peterson, asked to identify the best running back ever from Texas, could be heard stifling a laugh as he said, "Right now, I'd probably say Earl Campbell."

He said he didn't model himself after anyone but admitted his style of running is "most like LaDainian" because of his vision and cutting ability. Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman said the rookie reminds him of a smaller Eddie George because of how hard he runs, while Dallas coach Wade Phillips mentioned a combination of Gale Sayers and Dickerson.

"He's got that shift of gears like Sayers had and he has that tremendous speed that Dickerson had," said Phillips, whose team held Peterson to a season-low 63 yards (albeit on just 12 carries). "I was there for George Rogers' rookie year and Earl Campbell's rookie year and those guys were amazing. This guy is right up there with them."

Peterson rushed for more than 100 yards in three of his first four games before busting out with a club-record 224-yard effort in the Vikings' fifth game. His season average per carry is 5.8, the best in the league, helped by an NFL-high 22 runs of 10 yards or more, including four gains of at least 27 yards in the Chicago game alone.

"I wouldn't say I'm surprised," said Peterson, an Oklahoma alum who was the seventh player taken in this year's draft. "It was all about just staying healthy and just being prepared to go out there and take advantage of the opportunities whenever they present themselves. So that's what I've been doing."

Come tomorrow, he'll try to do it not only against one of the league's best rushing defenses, but with the league's best running back on the other sideline.

"I'm definitely going to be on the sidelines watching them while they're out there on offense," Peterson said this week. "This is a guy I've been watching for a long time, since he's been in college. And just to be on the same field with him and seeing how he works, it's definitely something that I'm going to be excited to look at."

29/10/07

Game of the week: New England Patriots v. Indianapolis Colts

Tim Seigfried

Issue date: 10/28/07 Section: Sports

Note: This article was written prior to the week eight games: Indianapolis at Carolina, Washington at New England.

What happens when you pit the two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL against one another? These are the same two teams that are ranked number 1 and number 2 in points per game and yards per game. This is coupled with the fact that one of the teams is the squeaky-clean reigning SuperBowl champions, while the other has been one of the most dominant football teams in this century while simultaneously coming under attack under allegations of cheating.

Why, you have week nine in the NFL, of course!

This weekend, the football equivalent of the movie Heat takes place, as the New England Patriots (Robert DeNiro) bring their perfect record into Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning and the Colts (Al Pacino).

I'll give you all a moment to google that movie referenc ok, welcome back.

Last season, Peyton Manning shook off all the critics who said he wasn't a clutch performer when he led the Colts through the gauntlet of the AFC by defeating the Baltimore Ravens, the New England Patriots, and the NFC Champion Chicago Bears en route to their first SuperBowl since 1970, when they were still the Baltimore Colts.

Manning has followed up his SuperBowl MVP season with much success, leading the Colts to victories in all of their games so far, despite the fact that he isn't as dominant as he has been in the past.

Through six games, Manning is ranked 7th in the NFL in touchdowns (11), passing yards (1,578), and completions (138), while only having 3 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 103.5(4th in the NFL).

Despite the fact that his numbers aren't as solid compared to his previous years, Manning has still been able to lead the Colts to the top of the AFC South standings, and well on their way to another playoff berth, which is also due in part to the success of their running game, which has been solid throughout the season.

On the ground, the Colts are leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 10, and are led by Joseph Addai, whose 98.4 yards per game is 3rd in the NFL, while his five touchdowns are ranked 2nd behind San Diego's LaDaininan Tomlinson.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Colts have been decent, despite holding opponents to an average of 15.8 points per game. However, the statistics don't always tell the story, as four of their six opponents (New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Denver) are ranked in the bottom ten in the NFL in points per game, averaging just 17.5 points per game.

Whatever opinion you have of their defense, it will unquestionably put to the test against the New England Patriots, who are ranked number 1 in the NFL in total points (279), points per game (39.9), and passing yards per game (299.4).

The juggernaut that is the Patriots' offense is the result of the brilliant play of Tom Brady, whose 27 touchdowns, 303.6 yards per game, and rating of 137.9 are tops in the NFL, while also being ahead of the pace to break the single season touchdown record of 49, set by Peyton Manning in 2004.

In other words, Tom Brady is having a good season.

Brady, who is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks of the generation, has led the Patriots to three SuperBowl victories in 2001, 2003 and 2004, while picking up two SuperBowl MVPs, cementing him as one of the greatest clutch quarterbacks in recent memory.

This year, however, Brady is on pace to have one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history. If he continues at this current pace, Brady will end the season with 386 completions in 523 attempts with 4,857 yards, 62 touchdowns and five interceptions, giving him a quarterback rating of 137.81.

Despite the fact that they are just projected statistics and will more than likely not end up as an accurate depiction of Brady's season, it serves as a tool to measure just how good he has been this year.

One of the reasons for his success this season has been the addition of Randy Moss, which gives Brady a legitimate superstar receiver, something that the Patriots haven't had in their recent years, in which they put together a solid receiving core without one dominant receiver.

When the Patriots traded for Moss in the off-season, they added one more tool to their arsenal, and it has paid off big-time, as Moss is having one of the best years of his career, and is leading all wide-receivers in touchdowns (10) and receiving yards (732), despite having 10 fewer receptions than Baltimore's Derrick Mason, who leads the NFL with 56.

With Moss getting most of the attention from opposing defenders, it leaves the door open for the role players of the team, such as wide receivers Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, who have a combined 8 touchdowns on the season.

On the ground, however, the Patriots have had less success, ranking 11th with five rushing touchdowns and 7th with 133.4 yards per game, while leading the NFL in rushing attempts with 224.

Defensively, the Patriots are solid, having allowed only 17.1 points per game in seven games, against opponents who have averaged 26 points per game, including three teams that are in the top 10 in points per game(Dallas, Cleveland, Cincinnati), and two others(Miami, San Diego) that have averaged over 20 points per game, while holding the New York Jets (19.4 PPG) and the Buffalo Bills (14 PPG) to under their average points per game.

Despite that, the Patriots have come under fire after their week one win over the New York Jets, in which they were caught videotaping signals on the sidelines, resulting in several fines and the loss of draft picks in the 2008 draft.

The allegations of cheating haven't stopped the Patriots, who would go on to win their next six games by a combined score of 241-205, which brings us back to week 9, in which the nefarious Patriots are set to take on the likeable Indianapolis Colts.

And with that, the biggest game so far this season is almost at hand, as the unstoppable force takes on the immovable object, except, unlike Heat, don't expect Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to share a cup of coffee before game time.

The Pick: New England Patriots: 35
Indianapolis Colts: 24

16/10/07

Cal's Hawkins shows off hands and speed against Oregon State

Cal's heartbreaking 31-28 loss to Oregon State prevented the Golden Bears from being ranked No. 1. However, Cal WR Lavelle Hawkins saw his NFL draft stock rise dramatically.

While DeSean Jackson, the highly decorated junior, was held in check (four receptions, 5 yards) Hawkins was virtually unstoppable. He finished with nine receptions for 192 yards (21.3 yards per catch) and two touchdowns.

Several of those catches were critical in the latter stages of the game when Cal was attempting to come back. On one fourth-down play, Hawkins ducked under a tackler to pick up a first down when it looked like he was going to be stopped 2 yards shy.

On Hawkins' 64-yard touchdown reception that cut Oregon State's lead to 31-28, it appeared that free safety Al Afalava had the angle to make the tackle. It didn't matter, though -- Hawkins turned on the jets, left Afalava in his wake and outraced the OSU defenders to the end zone.

Hawkins (5-foot-11, 183) has blazing speed, shows excellent hands and concentration, has great feet and is able to accelerate and locate the deep ball as well as any receiver in the country.

Keep in mind, Hawkins was a sought-after recruit out of the prep ranks in Stockton, Calif., originally signing with LSU.

He landed at City College of San Francisco, where he earned juco All-American honors before moving on to Cal in 2005.

While I've highlighted his stellar performance against Oregon State, he hasn't been a one-game wonder this season. Hawkins totaled seven receptions for 90 yards in the season opener against Tennessee, hauled in seven catches for 87 yards against Louisiana Tech and caught six passes for 95 yards against Arizona. Combine his athletic prowess, speed and natural pass-receiving ability with his current level of play, and Hawkins -- at this stage of the evaluation process -- is no worse than a second-round pick.

- In Arizona's hard-fought loss to USC, senior OLB Spencer Larsen was the standout defensive performer for the Wildcats. Although he was beaten in coverage by USC tight end Fred Davis for the go-ahead touchdown, Larsen was all over the field. Larsen (6-1, 235) finished with 17 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage.

- In the scouting profession, we always like to find players who, pound for pound, are the best at their position. At the top of my list is Michigan senior Mike Hart. The deceptively strong 5-foot-8, 200-pound running back has enjoyed a phenomenal career in Ann Arbor.

At the Big House against Purdue, Hart ran effectively with the ball in his hands; but what consistently gets your attention is the way he gets the job done as a blocker in blitz pickup situations. In this area, he has few peers.

Against the Boilermakers, Hart ran for 102 yards on 21 carries -- all with two minutes to go in the first half. He also had touchdown runs of 11 and 9 yards. On his 21st carry, Hart was sidelined with an ankle injury and never returned to the field. As college football fans, let's hope he's ready to go Saturday at Illinois.

Hart's durability and dependability amaze me. To see him limp off the field Saturday was a rarity. So far in 2007, he has carried the ball 200 times, with 30 carries or more in games against Northwestern, Penn State and Notre Dame. Hart already has surpassed 1,000 yards, is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has 12 touchdowns.

Hart is only 5-foot-8 and lacks big-time speed, so it would be easy to label him as just another great collegiate running back with so-so NFL potential. However, I don't believe that's the case. With his versatility, tremendous desire to excel and unmatched consistency from week to week, Hart is not only one of the top five Heisman candidates at this point but also a very good NFL prospect who should figure to be a first-day selection.

- My Heisman favorite right now is Boston College QB Matt Ryan, but he's not the only skill-position player for the Eagles who has the NFL brass taking note.

Given more of an opportunity to showcase his skills, senior RB Andre Callender (5-11, 205) has left a favorable impression on scouts this season. Throughout his career, Callender has never been a dazzling runner or someone who jumped out at you with impressive statistics. But as we saw against Notre Dame, he's an underrated all-around back who has been able to elevate his pro grade this season.

Callender finished with 23 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns against the Irish and also hauled in 10 receptions for 91 yards and one TD. He also did a nice job as a blocker in pass protection.

- Tennessee displayed very good balance on offense in its 33-21 victory over Mississippi State, amassing more than 200 yards on the ground and more than 250 yards through the air. And a lot of the credit has to go to the offensive line.

One player NFL scouts are keeping a close eye on is 6-foot-4, 309-pound senior Eric Young. A starter at right tackle as a junior, he switched to the left side for the 2007 season and has managed to more than hold his own. As a group, the Vols offensive line has done a terrific job protecting senior QB Erik Ainge, allowing him to be sacked just once through six games.

While Young has made a name for himself at tackle, he could follow the same path as Tennessee grad Arron Sears, who made the switch inside to guard at the pro level after being chosen in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

- If there is one thing the NFL can never seem to get enough of, it's speed, and there are two Conference USA seniors who are not lacking in that area: East Carolina RB Chris Johnson and Houston WR Donnie Avery.

A week after setting a school record with 372 all-purpose yards against Central Florida, Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries and totaled another 117 yards on four kickoff returns as East Carolina knocked off UTEP 46-43 in overtime. With a 40-yard dash time clocked in the mid-4.3s, Johnson's efforts are a big reason why coach Skip Holtz's Pirates sit atop C-USA's East Division with a 3-1 record. Depending on how Johnson performs in postseason all-star games, you could hear his name called anywhere between the second and fourth rounds.

Meanwhile, in Houston's 56-48 victory over Rice, Avery totaled 13 catches for an incredible 346 yards and two touchdowns. The 5-10½, 190-pound receiver is a blur with the ball in his hands both as a receiver (46 catches, 19.2 yards per catch, five TDs) and as a returner (29.6-yard average). Avery's stock has risen dramatically, to the point where he could end up going on the first day of the draft.

- Watching Oklahoma redshirt freshman DT Gerald McCoy against Missouri brought back memories of another Sooners great, Tommie Harris. Regarded as the top defensive lineman in the nation coming out of Oklahoma City's Southeast High School in 2006, McCoy definitely looked the part on Saturday. He collapsed the pocket on several occasions, impressing me with his explosiveness and hustling style. McCoy has a chance to develop into a super blue-chipper.

- While we're on the subject of outstanding young defensive linemen, two sophomore defensive ends have distinguished themselves above the rest -- South Florida's George Selvie and Virginia's Jeffrey Fitzgerald. However, sophomore Greg Hardy of Ole Miss may move ahead of them.

Hardy turned in an exceptional performance in the Rebels' 27-24 loss to Alabama, finishing with 13 tackles, five stops behind the line of scrimmage, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two QB hurries. Athletically gifted at 6-5 and 255 pounds, he is currently second on the Rebels with 55 tackles, while he sits at the top of the SEC defensive charts with 16 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles.

Hardy has that super-quick take-off you look for and has few peers when it comes to his athletic prowess and versatility. A member of the Ole Miss basketball team last season, Hardy has seen action on the offensive side of the ball, as well, hauling in a pair of TD receptions this season.

We watched LB Patrick Willis excel during his collegiate career at Ole Miss. Now it looks like it's Hardy's turn to be the huge headliner with the Rebels defense.