I got some really interesting comments about my last blog.  I know that it's technically not the coach's job to train people for the next level... but it's the point of college overall.

Why do you go to college?  To get ready for the next level of life.  If that next level is making a living on Sunday, then you better be prepared to succeed!  If the coach doesn't care that his kid is going to suck in the pros, then he's pretty heartless.

Plus, if some of those wacky-throwing option QB's threw a little better, they would be completely unstopable.

Now, let me weigh in my 2 cents on West Virignia or Ohio State.

I'd really like to see West Virigina get a chance, should Mizzou beat OU.  I just think it would be a more fun game to watch.  But you could make a great argument for West Virginia.

Their one loss was on the road against a team that at that point was hot and in the running for the National Title.  Also, Pat White was hurt.  And, they almost won!  With White in the lineup this team is close to unstopable.

Ohio State's one loss was late at home to an overachieving team that is still a year away from being good enough to challenge for the Big Ten crown.  Also, Illinois runs a similar to offense to West Viriginia, only without as good of playmakers, and they cut the Buckeyes up.

I love Big Ten football, I really do.  But, I think it would be nice to see some new blood play for the title.  However, if Mizzou loses or West Virginias loses to Pitt, none of this discussion matters.

I tell you what, if it's Ohio State vs West Virginia in the title game, I wouldn't be surprised to see West Virginia win.

This is the year of the injury bug in the NFL.  It seems like more and more star players are dropping like flies.  You could argue that the bad QB play this season is linked to injured running backs and wide receivers.  You could also make the case that some teams have failed because they lost starting QBs and their depth wasn't good enough.

I don't buy either.  With 120 Division 1 Schools (and countless lower divisions) feeding into only 32 teams, there should be better backups.  The old line is that Steve Young rode the bench for at least multiple years in San Fran.  There should be 32 elite quarterbacks in this league, and there should be at least 32 capable backups.

There aren't, and my question is this:  Is the Option killing the NFL quarterback?

So many colleges are depending on mobile QB's, and are designing offenses based more on their legs than arms.  It seems to me that their college coaches are more concerned with winning with explosive running than teaching them the tools to actually succeed at the next level as a QB.

Think about.  Vince Young was unstoppable at Texas.  He came out of school with a bizarre throwing motion that inhibited his throwing accuracy and arm strength.  Instead of teaching him how to throw the ball, Mack Brown taught him how to run the spread.  Now, he's headed backwards in only his second year.

He's not alone.  Alex Smith was a great part of the Urban Meyer spread offense at Utah.  How well is he playing this year?  Oh, he's the least efficient starting QB in the NFL.

There's also Mike Vick.  He was never a hit at quarterback.  He was too short, and should have been converted to wide receiver like his younger brother.

Most absurdly talented option QB's are converted to wide receiver.  Brad Smith was a legend at Missouri.  He could throw and run, and most of the time looked unstoppable.  He's now a wide receiver for the Jets.  And he has the size!  He's 6'2!!  If he had been taught how to throw better and to read defenses, he's be a backup or starting QB.

Mobile quarterbacks can be taught how to throw.  Donovan McNabb became elite when he started running less and started throwing more.  David Garrard was once thought of as a QB that could only run, and wouldn't ever be a successful starter.  This off season he stepped up his game dramatically, and he's one of the most efficient QB's in the league.

The successful "scramblers" in the league are ones who move out of the pocket to find open targets, not to run down field.

I have a bad feeling about guys like Pat White, Tim Tebow, and Dennis Dixon.  White and Dixon are superb talents who won't ever get a chance to play QB because they're too skinny.  Tebow, however, has the right size for an NFL QB.  But he, like Vince Young, has a slightly bizarre throwing motion that Urban Meyer probably won't mentor him how to fix.  That'll ruin his potential career as an NFL QB.

Colleges aren't producing talented QB's.  For this, we are seeing some really crappy guys get chances at the NFL level.  If you notice, most of the guys who are successful in the league are from button-down old-school NCAA offenses that are about pounding the ball and pocket QB's:  Manning (Tennessee), Brady (Michigan), Palmer (USC), Hasselbeck (BC), Big Ben (Miami-OH), Drew Brees (Purdue).

It's the job of college coaches to not only win games and compete in bowls, but to prepare young athletes for their future.  They're not doing their jobs.

My picks for the postseason:

AFC North Winner: Steelers - The Browns are the only challenger, but unfortunately for them they lost the tye-breaker.

AFC South Winner: Colts - I still say they can beat their Division foes.  The word is that most of the hurt offensive players will be back after the Falcons game, which is really good news as their remaining schedule is packed with good defensive teams.

AFC East Winner: Pats - This one doesn't really need an explanation.

AFC West Winner: Broncos - I just can't trust the Bolts of Chiefs right now.  Sure, the Broncos suffered some really bad losses this season, but the Cheifs are really ####ed up, and Shanahan is such a better coach than Norv Turner.

Wild Cards: Jags, Browns - I love the Browns this year.  I think they can easily go 4-2 the rest of the season.  I also love the Jags.  At the beginning of the year it looked like both of the wild card spots would be AFC South teams.  However, the Texans may be too far behind (from all of those injuries), and the Titans are going backwards.  Remember, last year Garrard was Vince Young-like.  He could only win with his legs, not his arm.  Now he's transformed into one of the most efficient QB's in the game.  Are you taking notes Vince?

I think the Jags also go 4-2 the rest of the way.

NFC North Winner: Packers - This team has the best record of any Favre-led team before.  How much fun is that?

NFC South Winner: Bucs - Can you trust the Saints' D right now?  How about the Panthers' O?  Or Bobby Petrino period?  It's almost a shame that someone from this divistion has to go to the postseason.

NFC East Winner: Cowboys - The Offense is great, but let's talk about the D.  Wade Phillips is the current 3-4 NFL mastermind.  He is proving that the Defensive scheme is just as important as the talent you own.  The Chargers were beastly last year, lost almost no one in the offseason, and now are a joke.  The Cowboys were talked about as being a great group of youngsters, but played vanilla under Parcells.  Now they're holding down the fort.

NFC West Winner: Seahawks - It's sometimes hard to trust the Hawks, and I should know because I've been following them for 4 or 5 years.  They never win when you want them to... but they always seem to grasp the division.  There's one reason why I trust them this year, and that's because they seem ready to put the offense in the arms of the vastly underrated Hasselbeck.

Wild Cards: Giants, Cards - The Giants are an easy pick.  I don't think they'll collapse like in previous years.  They seem focused and ready to prove people wrong.  Now, the Cards.  This race is down to them, the Redskins, Eagles, and Lions.  The Lions and Eagles have really hard schedules down the stretch, while the Cards is much easier.  I feel like the Redskins are the biggest threat, but their point differential right now suggests that they should be at least 4-6, not 5-5.

It doesn't make sense to me.  You have a great 1-2 RB threat.  Jason Campbell has looked so good.  You've got a great tight end, and good receivers.  A supposed Offensive genius, and the ultimat trick play guy in Randel-El.  This is a coaching problem, and it'll keep them from the postseason.

John Czarnecki wrote an article questioning the problem with the Colts Special Teams.

The problem is that they have a system full of smaller defenders.  When these guys come flying down the field to tackle on special teams, they often get completely run over by the blockers.

This was an exaggerated problem last night with so many people injured.  As John Madden very wisely (for once) put it, when you've got injured starters, backups have to step into the starting role.  Then, you have 3rd stringers and practice squad players covering special teams.

But, in my opinion, the bigger problem is on offense.

Manning has 4 extemely good targets to throw to: Marvin, Reggie, Dallas, and Gonzales.  All but Reggie were injured.

I hate to say this, but it's time to start preparing for life without Marvin Harrison.  He's struggling to come back from this injury, and may only have a couple of seasons left.

The Colts were questioned during the draft for going after too many offensive players, but now we see why: they have no talent in the depth chart.

This was one game, but there's a huge problem on the horizon.  If they want to not only keep their #2 seed in the playoffs but also have a chance at taking down the Pats, they need to get healthy.  It's getting rediculous how many starters they've lost.

This is a big weekend for Iowa football fans.  Our beloved Hawkeyes have a chance to become bowl eligible at home against a 1-8 team.  That team also happens to be our biggest Big Ten rival.

But, a loss would be the cherry on a completely disasterous year.  The final game is against an easy Western Michigan team, but we would be 3-5 in the conference, and probably on the outside looking in at a bowl birth.

How did this happen?!

The Hawkeyes are the epitomy of the Big Ten.  Always lots of preason hype, a good record at the end of the season because of cupcake wins, but never able to get over the "hump."

Iowa can't win the big game.  Iowa can't beat good teams outside of the conference.  I'm sick of hearing it.  I want results.

Is it time to part ways with Kirk Ferenz?

Don't get me wrong, Kirk did an amazing job of turning the Hawkeyes around.  But he has thus far only executed phase one of a two phase plan:

1) Win with home grown talent, bust through and crash the BCS party.
2) Use those bowl experiences to get more 5 and 4 star recruits/become perennial powerhouse.

Whoops... #2 never happened.

Think back to the Brad Banks days.  That was phase 1.  Sure, Iowa was crushed by USC in the Orange Bowl in January 2003, but that season made everyone notice the Hawkeyes were back.

The next two years they continued their ressurgence, winning shares of the Big Ten, and beating Florida and LSU respectively in January bowls.

But, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum: Kirk never executed a phase 2.

After those big time wins, he failed to grasp big-time recruits, and the Hawkeyes started losing again.

First they lost a heart breaker to Florida, who was still a year away from being in the National Championship, and 2 years removed from really grasping the spread system.  Then, last year, they completely collapsed after being pounded early in the season by Ohio State.

Sure, you can blame the horrid losses the last two years on injuries, but what about the coaching and the recruiting?  If Kirk had gotten his hands on better skills players, there would actually be depth on that team.  And some of those losses are coaching losses.

Losing to Minnesota and Indiana last year?  Pathetic.  Getting wasted by Texas in the final few minutes at the Alamo bowl?  Texas was more injured than Iowa, and Iowa had had over a month to completely heal!

This year, think about the offense.  The Wide Receivers have been dropping like flies.  And, if you remember, the Hawkeyes started the year with great hype about their 1-2 Running Back punch of Young and Sims.

So, with a dynamic RB duo, a young QB, and unhealthy WR's, you'd think that Iowa would become a pound 'em team.  Nope.  Poor young Christensen is averaging 30.8 pass attempts a game, while the RB duo is combining for 25.8 Carries a game.

That's bad play calling.

And, you can't blame the O-line.  Yes, Christensen has been sacked a lot, but the line can run block.  Young is averaging 4.6 YPC, and Sims 4.8.

With this type of season, the two backs should be combining for 40 carries a game.  That would take the pressure off of the young QB (who's playing much much better than the fans give him credit for), and help keep that D rested.

Bad recruiting and stupid play calling created this mess in Iowa City.  And I don't understand why Kirk Ferenz isn't on the heat seat at least a little bit.

I still don't think Ohio State goes undefeated.  They were tested by Wisconsin, not LSU.  I'm not convinced.

I think I'll blog more about this tonight.

So, Don Shula wants the Pats to have an asterisk next to them if they go undefeated, because of spygate.

This makes no sense on any level.

I thought we were beyond this, and the problems were over.  So now someone needs to re-explain to him what the spying was for.

They (and other teams) spied to be able to prepare for a team should they meet again later in the season or postseason.  So the taping done on the Jets didn't help them win that game, it would help them win their rematch.

Of course, that tape was caught, and an end was put to it.  The rest of their success this season is not based on cheating, but on playing well.  None of the 16 games this season will be one or lost on spygate.

That's why past opponents such as McNabb and Bettis made a stink, because spying was used against them in the past.

But not in the present.  If you need an asterisk, it's on their 3 Super Bowl wins.

However, what annoys me is that this will only further #### off the Pats players.  For the better part of the season they have been destroying hapless team, and never letting up on the gas, probably because of how mad they are about spygate.

And now this.  I know Shula doesn't want anyone to break his team's undefeated record, but he may have just motivated the pats to do it.  What a dummy.

Some last tidbits on an exciting game:

Health played a major role.

Indy lost because it couldn't capitolize on offense early.  Had Marvin and Ugoh been in, this game could have easily been 28-7 at halftime.  We saw how important Marvin is in the redzone last season against the Pats, with a sick touchdown in the regular season, and killer 2-point conversion in the championship game.  And if you haven't gotten a chance to watch Ugoh, he's a monster in the running game.

Also, late in the game the Pats receivers were able to get it going over the middle, and the HB draw worked well.  If Keiaho and Morris were in, the success would've been minimalized.

Colts fans have to be at least happy that their backups were able to hang tough.  But now they need to get healthy so they can win the innevitable Postseason matchup.

It's all about the Wide Receivers

There's always talk about who's better, Tom or Peyton?  My thinking after the last couple of matchups is that they're pretty equal.

The major debate begins with Tom's 3 rings.  But is it really the Quarterback who wins the Super Bowl?  Isn't it the team?  That's what the Colts and Pats have been preaching for years, that it takes a team, and there are no individuals.

That was the case yesterday, as Brady was picked off twice, and Manning once with one fumble lost.  Who was it that saved Tom Brady?  His insane, and clutch receiver group.  And with both Marvin and Gonzales out, Manning had no where to throw in the end.

Except, of course, for the times when Manning found Moorehead and Wayne deep, and the passes were dropped.  Can't blame those potential game icers on Peyton.

The NFL has got to improve the Officiating

There were some bad calls in this game.  Admit it.  Luckily, unlike, say the Steelers-Seahawks Superbowl, they affected both sides equally.

Early in the game Randy Moss could have easily been called for Pass Interference, and wasn't.  Then, late in the game, he was called and I didn't see anything.

The Pats D was charged twice with pass interference, but the 2nd was pretty ticky-tacky.

Anthony Gonzales went all the way down to the ground with the TD catch, was spun after his butt hit the ground and lost the ball.  It was called incomplete, I'd say that was a wrong call.

The Zebras did a nice job of catching all the holding penalties on both sides, and all the Matt Light Personal fouls (who is this ####-bag?).  But they're lucky that their bad calls didn't heavily favor the losing team, or the fans would be screaming for blood.

The Pats D isn't as fast

This could be a problem for the Pats in the playoffs if Marvin returns.  Joe Addai made the Pats linebackers and safeties look old and slow at the end of the first half.  And Reggie Wayne had a dropped pass deep after completely beating Ellis Hobbs (footnote: Reggie isn't that fast).

I didn't think this game would matter much anyway

The Colts have a rediculously difficult schedule while the Pats' is less so.  I figured that even if the Colts won this one, they could easily been staring at 13-3 at the end of the season, while the Pats were14-2.  The Pats will lose eventually (because everyone does), but I thought no matter what the outcome of this game was, they wouldn't tie at the end of the season.  Thus, making this game insignificant as a tie-breaker.

In the end, I have to tip my cap to the Pats for overcoming early Brady turnovers to win a close game.  I also have to tip my cap to the Colts for putting up a fight even though they were a little ####ed up.  The rematch should be fun.

Readers, please welcome to the blog my wife Jacqui...

49ers @ Falcons

Jacqui: 49ers, because I’m a dog lover.

Chris: 49ers, but it’ll be boring 

Bengals @ Bills

Jacqui: Bengals

Chris: Bengals

Broncos @ Lions

Jacqui: Lions, cus Mike Shanahan looks like a 10 year old.

Chris: Broncos, I think they’ll bounce back.

Packers @ Chiefs

Jacqui: Packers

Chris: Packers, the Chiefs are a mirage

Chargers @ Vikings

Jacqui: Vikings, I look good in purple

Chris: Chargers

Jaguars @ Saints

Jacqui: Saints, Bush has to start making big plays or Subway won’t want him anymore.

Chris: Saints, 2 weeks ago I’d have said Jags.

Redskins @ Jets

Jacqui: Redskins, New York sucks

Chris: Redskins

Cardinals @ Buccaneers

Jacqui: (snore) Cards, but Edge is still on my ####-list

Chris: Bucs.  Robo cop or no backfield?

Panthers @ Titans

Jacqui: Panthers, although I don’t think I could name a player from either team.

Chris: Titans, not cus of Vince, but because of their D

Seahawks @ Browns

Jacqui: Browns, because as long as that QB is winning games and keeping Brady Quinn on the sideline, I’m a happy lady.

Chris: Seahawks.  They’ve gotta beat a quality opponent sometime.

Patriots @ Colts

Jacqui: Colts, although if the Pats win it’s because they struck a deal with the devil.

Chris: Colts

Texans @ Raiders

Jacqui: Raiders

Chris: Texans

Cowboys @ Eagles

Jacqui: Cowboys

Chris: Cowboys

Ravens @ Steelers

Jacqui: Ravens by default because I hate the Steelers

Chris: Steelers

Let's pay hommage to the two underrated defensive linemen who will probably be factors in the Colts/Pats game.

Ty Warren and Robert Mathis.

Last season (and so far this season), the watchful eyes of every opposing Offensive Coordinator has been on Freeney, leaving huge holes for Mathis to blow through.

In New England, Richard Seymour has been ####ed up this year, and Ty Warren has really really stepped it up.

I say these two will probably play bigger roles this week in rattling the QB's.