looking c-l-o-s-e-l-y
MGoBlog readers, feast your eyes on an uncommonly good college football column:
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1038283
Mr. H is one of few sportswriters who has bothered to take a close look at the W-L records for the various conferences. He can see that the Big 10's 4-3 performance is arguably the best (and that it isn't even close).
How often have we heard about (say) the ACC's bowl record without any accompanying analysis? Ah...
January 12th, 2010 at 6:59 AM ^
(Sorry -- I meant to put this in the main post.)
He also took a close look at Mallet's year (which few have bothered to do). Much better against weaker teams...
January 12th, 2010 at 8:15 AM ^
Ryan Mallett is pretty overrated, but his best two games were against A&M and Georgia, bad defenses yes, but BCS conference bowl teams.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:39 AM ^
that mallett is overrated and does play much better against weaker competition... but thats not going to stop a NFL team from taking him in the top 10 when he comes out and giving him millions of dollars... look at what he did against the best defense in the SEC (bama).. he we completed 35% of his passes for 160 yards, and that was against D he is more likely to see in the NFL...
January 12th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
Was his O-Line similar to what he'd have in the NFL?
How about his receivers?
January 12th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^
I actually don't believe Mallett is overrated. For having a less than stellar supporting cast and no running back, he still seemed to put up big numbers and definitely passed the eyeball test. Even though he was in his third year of college, this was his first year as a starter. He singlehandedly came very close to beating a good Florida team this year.
It was obvious that his level of play dropped in colder temperatures though. He made a very wise decision by returning to school for his final year.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^
I don't think that Mallett is highly overrated either. I think most people rate Mallett about where he should be, especially in comparison to other QB's in the nation.
Next season Mallett will be one of the best QB's in the country and will be a top 10 pick in the draft IMHE. I just don't see how people consider him to be overrated. It isn't like he gets the attention like Tebow does.
He had a very good year and showed a lot of improvement on a very weak offensive team. He WAS the offense at Arkansas. Saying he is overrated seems a bit like sour grapes to me.
Edit: I would say he was overrated coming out of HS, but the hype machine has died down signicantly in his case since then.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^
when mallett plays against teams with a good D he has issues. go and look at the box scores for 4 of their 5 losses... against florida, bama, ole miss, and lsu his completetion % is below 50%... in their bowl game that they won he didn't even complete 50% of his passes and that was against ECU... i don't have sour grapes twards the kid what so ever, he did what he had to do and i'm fine with that... but what i don't to hear is that he is going to be the next great QB because hes got a cannon for an arm and he can make "all of the throws"... i put a lot more into what a kid does against good teams in college then what he does for an entire season...
January 12th, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
When we are talking about a good player on a bad team, I don't believe numbers tell the entire story. I wouldn't expect a great college QB to put up big numbers while being chased around in the backfield every play, let alone a guy in his first year as a starter. I base my judgement of Mallett on the fact that he routinely completed passes which only 1-2 other college QB's were even capable of. Also, because his WR's were small in stature, he threw the ball away instead of throwing it up to a bigger guy who could be counted on to make an improbable catch.
I agree with you that he didn't look great against ECU, but ECU was probably better than you are giving them credit for.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^
Yes, I was using overrated in the context that he was an elite recruit coming out of high school. He's a decent quarterback (thus a great one by SEC standards), but he has two years to play in college before moving to the NFL if he so desires. He probably will leave after this upcoming year according to numerous mentions of his questionable character, but he has the ability to be a starting QB in the NFL. Still, he is not as good as everyone originally thought he was.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
Mallet isn't overrated. Though Mallet is a junior year level QB, this was really his first official year of being a starter and didn't he throw for the most pass yards ever for an Arkansas QB? That's pretty damn impressive.
I had this argument with my roommate, who played with Mallet at Michigan, that if he went to the NFL he would be the best QB available. Though, I do think he is doing himself a great service by waiting a year and by next year, depending on how well his performances are, he could easily be a top 5 draft pick. Couple that with the fact that this years QB class is somewhat weak, he could potentially be a #1 overall pick next year. Look at Mark Sanchez, the guy started for only 1 year, and was surrounded by absurd USC 5 star talent, and he was a top 5 pick. Mallet can be assured of at least that.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:49 AM ^
Mallett isn't returning to school for his final year. He still has two years of eligibility remaining. He might leave after next year, but that's no guarantee.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^
Doesn't sitting out for a transfer burn that year of eligibility? I wasn't aware that it was similar to a redshirt.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
You can use your redshirt if you transfer. As a matter of fact that's what all athletes who haven't used their redshirt and then transfer do. Otherwise when you do transfer you would lose a year of eligibility.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:03 AM ^
You have five years to play four, whether you transfer or not. If he transferred from Michigan after a redshirt freshman season, then he would have been a redshirt junior this year. But since he only played one season at Michigan, 2008 counted as his redshirt year, and therefore he was only a redshirt sophomore in 2009.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^
Interesting, thanks for the info. If that is the case, I don't really understand why Mallett and his father made such a stink about him having to sit out a year.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:07 AM ^
Conference bowl wins are nice but I couldnt care less if the Big Ten went 1-6 in bowl games as long as that one win is Michigan is a BCS bowl.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:10 AM ^
Mallet is going to be an amazing NFL QB.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:41 AM ^
The Malletts made a big issue out of having to sit out a year because Mallett could have potentially just finished his second year of starting at Arkansas. Therefore, he would be more ready for the NFL and could have left school this year as a two-year starter. Now he has to spend more time in school to get that experience.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
I agree with you, but at least he had a year of grooming without losing a year of eligibility. He will probably be better off in the long run.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:16 AM ^
God between us and a ten year transition stretch like USC had.
Though the evidence of the first two seasons offer lots of doubts, this is why I am behind Rich Rod to succeed.
The factions are a huge issue. The Domer fans I know are not happy with the Brian Kelly hire. If you take USC, ND and other examples: coming off a long tradition of winning, there appears to be a period of adjustment where the factions and infighting goes on and on until everyone finally gets back behind the program and pushes.
I am hoping David Brandon "outs" the factions and we get on with supporting "the Team, the Team, the Team"!