For me not a horrible weekend but not especially inspiring either. Some good bits but mostly felt like a holding pattern except for the Big Ten where there was a huge upset.
I didn't bring it up but last week but LB Pete Werner tallied 10 tackles and two tackles for a loss in a Ohio State win last week. In one report the writer gave the LB's a horrible grade and then added "for what it's worth Pete Werner had 10 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss." Werner is the rare big school underclassmen LB making waves yet the porous Ohio State is "all his fault." And yes I heard Herbie pile on last night. Anyone care to wonder what happened to the Ohio State DL where the OL are able to get up field and block the LBs? Or all those athletes in their defensive backfield?
Purdue is very caste ( a white safety non withstanding) and maybe like last year with no undefeated Big Ten teams left the dreaded SEC could slip in two yet again. Or Oklahoma? Bad and worse.
Nice to see Northwestern gut out a tough road win. Nagel had a solid but not spectacular game. WR Riley Nees ripped off a speedy 26 yard catch. He will be a junior next year and hopefully becomes a starter. New emerging LB in Chris Bergin #28.
It snowed in Wisconsin. Bucky what the hell is that? It is not even Halloween yet. Ha.
Michigan and Michigan predictably played a tough defensive battle. Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes is a beast and looks like early round NFL material for 2020.
I wonder what the NFL plans to do with QBs Trace McSorley and Nick Fitzgerald who both ran for over 100 yards yesterday? Will they be invited to the Combine like they should or will they be ignored because they are probably not NFL starter types in the NFL?
Maryland has all of their caste plates in place. A bit of a fruit cup defense and a caste cutie offense that relies on big plays against all black defenses. But the buck stopped there with Iowa a team that fields more white defenders than the entire SEC. They turned Maryland into a pile of mush. Great to see. And as pointed out above The Great White Hope CB Riley Moss was spectacular. Funny thing, Iowa would be undefeated if they hadn't made several brutal mistakes against Wisconsin.
Nebraska finally won but I skipped it since the other Big Ten games were on at the same time.
Clemson won handily as their new QB Lawrence is becoming more comfortable. Tanner Muse had a sack and back up S Nolan Turner was in on a few plays. Nothing inspiring about Big 12 action but the Pac 12 had a few moments.
Utah destroyed USC who played without their defensive studs Edge Porter Gustin (out for the year) and LB Cameron Smith . Quick as a hiccup WR Britain Covey had a nice 4-79-1 which included a 40 plus TD explosion up the middle. And my nominee for defensive player of the year is Chase Hansen. I think, I can't verify it, there are three players on Utah's defense that wear # 22 with the name Hansen on the back. The guy is everywhere!
As noted RB Patrick Laird finally exploded on the ground. Also caught 3 passes for 48 yards. My NFL take. He should be invited to the Combine. I predict a 6th or 7th round pick. He fits into a Patriots like scheme. Good player. Great character.
Nice to see youngsters Max Borghi and Sean McGrew get more involved as the season wears on. As noted above I saw that Borghi juke for the TD and the LB crying on the sidelines. Borghi has some mad moves. Wonderful!!
Princeton WR Jesper Horsted had another solid game in a win with a 10-126-1 stat line. But overall not a great week for white WRs except for the two below.
I will finish with two WRs who have been pouring it on all season long. Scott Miller and Andy Isabella continue to tear it up. Will the NFL shy away from inviting them to the combine ? I can hear the excuse from here. They are too small. ( And in the shadows "they are white.") That doesn't prevent the NFL from inviting small type black "speedsters" to the Combine. I am sick of these two players being ignored on the big boards. I will be royally pissed off if they are ignored come Combine time. I am convinced both have NFL talent. Exciting players!!