It's amazing to see how quickly rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has become the face of the Minnesota Vikings. He's only played about six quarters of NFL regular season football. Already, games are being advertised as "Teddy Bridgewater leads the Minnesota Vikings against..." This was certainly the hope when the Vikings traded back into the first round of last spring's draft to select Bridgewater. It's just surprising that it has taken place so soon. The kid's unique calmness was made even more apparent by Christian Ponder's frantic and sad performance against the Green Bay Packers last week. The Vikings really need Bridgewater under center. Now and for a very long time.
The Vikings host the Detroit Lions today. The Packers are still the favorites to win the NFC North but no team is separating themselves from the rest of the division just yet. The Lions have a division win against the Packers. The Vikings need a division win today.
The NFC East is the surprise division through five weeks. They were supposed to suck but the teams have actually played better than average to great. Three of the four teams are involved in big teams today. The Dallas Cowboys have played great. They looked horrible in a season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers. They haven't lost since. They visit the Seattle Seahawks today. As long as running back DeMarco Murray can stay healthy, the Cowboys can be a real tough team to beat. Many snickered when they spent first round picks on interior offensive lineman in recent drafts. Center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin are quickly becoming one of the better center-guard combos in the league. Tyron Smith is one of the best tackles. The Cowboys offensive line is playing at a very high level. They are a big reason for the Cowboys early season success. The Cowboys offensive line has to control the Seahawks front seven to have any chance at a win in Seattle. The other big NFC East game is tonight's game. New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants are playing great after a rough start. It probably took a while for the offense to get comfortable in new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's offense. Despite some offensive issues, issues that the genius Chip Kelly wasn't supposed to allow, the Eagles are 4-1.
New England at Buffalo might be the best game not involving a team from the NFC East. The Bills are tough at home and the Patriots finally found their offense last week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
College Stuff:
As the 2012 National Signing Day approached, Cal was on the verge of bringing in one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. That potential class was led by a verbal commitment from safety Shaq Thompson of Sacramento's Grant Union High. Thompson is the younger brother of former Cal corner Syd'quan Thompson. The younger Thompson was very familiar with and fond of Cal, head coach Jeff Tedford, and recruiter and defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi. Several high school players were following Shaq Thompson's lead and Lupoi's enthusiastic recruiting. Quarterback Jared Goff, receivers Bryce Treggs and Jordan Payton, and lineman Arik Armstead. The class was a potential program-changer. Without much notice and 15 days before signing day, Lupoi bolts for Washington. Thompson changes his commitment to Washington. Armstead commits to Oregon. Payton commits to UCLA. The big loss was Thompson. Losing that recruiting class might also have cost Tedford his job. Yesterday, Cal was on the verge of going up 7-0 in the first quarter against Washington. Instead of a 1-yard quarterback plunge for Cal, Goff lost the ball and Thompson grabbed the loose ball and took it 100 yards for a 7-0 Huskies lead. Cal didn't really threaten much after that and lost 31-7. It was Thompson's fifth touchdown of the season. Four on defensive scores. One on offense.
Shaq Thompson received a harsh reception in his two visits to Berkeley. It always bothers me when a schools's fan base goes after a kid for not choosing their school. It's ridiculous to attack a kid for making a decision that is best for him. Lupoi's decision was the one that bothered me. He played at Cal. He played for Tedford. He loved Cal. His effectiveness as a recruiter was due to his enthusiasm for his school. His timing was horrible. Washington just threw a bunch of money at him and he grabbed it. He took a big recruit with him as well. Which was probably why then-Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian wanted Lupoi in the first place. Sarkisian learned at the altar of Peter Carroll so his ethics are real high.
It was disappointing to see that the two games that interested me most were at the same time. Oregon at UCLA and Auburn at Mississippi St. So, I was switching between the two.
Oregon coach Mark Helfrich and his staff were sporting some snappy polo shirts. Striped with the classic Oregon duck. That duck seems to have been forgotten with all of the ridiculous uniforms that Oregon wears. Bring the duck back! As for the game, UCLA was disappointing. The final score of 42-30 made the game seem a little closer than it really was.
I'm curious to see how NFL scouts view Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. He's a terrific football player but it's damn near impossible to judge his throwing skills. All of his completions are to wide, WIDE open receivers. He never has to throw into tight windows, No one knows if he even can. He won't get those wide open receivers in the NFL.
The Auburn-Mississippi St. game was a very sloppy game. Six turnovers in the first half. Four by Mississippi St. Two by Auburn. The four turnovers didn't keep Mississippi St. from taking a 28-13 half time lead.
Despite the sloppiness, Mississippi St. looks like a very strong, confident football team. Take away the mistakes and they destroy a very good Auburn team. Mississippi St. still won 38-23, even with a bunch of mistakes. I'd put Mississippi St. ahead of Florida St. right now. Mississippi too.
The Mississippi schools are the big story of this college football season. Mississippi St. and Mississippi could be the #1 and #2 teams in the nation by this afternoon. Texas A&M has probably seen all they want to see of the two schools. The Aggies might have had national title hopes after they dismantled South Carolina in week one. The Aggies have been humbled by the Mississippis the last two weeks.
Dak Prescott and Bo Wallace have to be made-up names. They sound like spies from a novel. Or, fictional football heroes. Instead, they are real life college football stars. Quarterbacks of those Mississippi schools. Prescott at Mississippi St. Wallace at Mississippi. Georgia running back Todd Gurley probably exited the Heisman race with his recent suspension. Prescott and Wallace are in that race. Perhaps leading it.
Nov. 29 could be a huge day in college football. Mississippi St. at Mississippi. State has the easier road to that game. Alabama on Nov. 15 is the only real threat to an undefeated record. Mississippi still has to go to LSU, and host Auburn. Fun days in Mississippi.
Fun day in Minnesota. Go Vikings!!!
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