Video Clips: Fun Timewasters

By Rick Morris

From time to time, we try to accommodate our Lounge content consumers who just want some fun, light entertainment. Hence this edition of our Video Clips series, entitled "Fun Timewasters."

These are simply some video clips that you can enjoy and consume in the form of good, mindless entertainment. On with the show!

Ted Ginn, human highlight reel:

A tribute to one of the world’s great sporting events, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix on the Formula One circuit. Check out the video to see some glimpses of the past and present on one of the most visually spectacular backdrops you’ll ever witness – oh, and there’s some bitchin’ crashes in there.

An infamous clip: Carl Monday, ace investigative reporter from my hometown, “exposing” a perv using a library computer to watch porn and shove his hand down his drawers with young kids nearby:

Redneck puppet ventriloquism:

Here’s the George Costanza real-life “Frogger” clip. Classic.

Ohio State fans taking excessive joy in the Michigan choke to Appalachian State. SHOCKING!

From the late, lamented SUNDAY NIGHT SUBMISSION (one of my all-time favorites) on SportsTalkCleveland.com – the name Krone Meltzer was made infamous to wrestling fans all over the world. Who is Krone Meltzer? Why, he’s an adorable young tyke who loves spewing opinions on pro wrestling. He knows it all: just ask him! Here’s some of his greatest hits:

NBC News is now making their videos available for embedding on blogs. The first one that we will feature is their tribute to William F. Buckley, Jr.

Here’s a goofy fun little cartoon from 1969: it’s the opening to the animated program “The Archies” with the toe-tapping ditty “Sugar, Sugar.”

2008 Undeclared Underclassmen...Right, Wrong, or Indifferent

by Jason Jones

Undeclared Underclassmen

1. Darren McFadden-RB
2. Kenny Phillips-FS
3. James Laurinaitus-ILB
4. Ryan Clady-OT
5. Vernon Gholston-DE
6. Calais Campbell-DE
7. Jonathan Stewart-RB
8. Malcolm Jenkins-CB
9. Malcolm Kelly-WR
10. Kevin Smith-RB
11. DeSean Jackson-WR
12. Aqib Talib-CB
13. Felix Jones-RB
14. Rashard Mendenhall-RB
15. Pat Sims-DT
16. Derrick Harvey-DE
17. Jerod Mayo-ILB
18. Jamaal Charles-RB
19. James Hardy-WR
20. Geno Hayes-OLB
21. Ray Rice-RB
22. Mario Manningham-WR
23. Steve Slaton-RB
24. James Davis-RB
25. Adrian Arrington-WR
26. Justin King-CB
27. Brian Robiskie-WR
28. Mario Urrita-WR
29. Jack Ikegwuonu-CB
30. Erin Henderson-OLB
31. Brandon Flowers-CB
32. Earl Bennett-WR
33. Martellius Bennett-TE
34. Devin Thomas-WR
35. Chilo Rachal-OLB
36. Phillip Merling-DE
37. Jermichael Finley-TE
38. Anthony Collins-OT
39. Joe Burnett-OT
40. Branden Albert-G
41. DaJuan Morgan-FS
42. Taj Smith-WR
43. Johnny Dingle-DE
44. Orlando Scandrick-CB
45. Ryan Grice-Mullen-WR
46. Darius Reynaud-WR
47. Victor Harris-CB
48. Franklin Dunbar-OT
49. Davone Bess-WR
50. James Banks-WR

As a draft analyst, it is generally my contention that 85% of eligible players should make themselves eligible for the NFL Draft. In this era of pro football, given a couple years even 6^th rounders make contributions, and dollars. This is the first year I can remember that sure fire top 15 picks have chosen to return to school. One can always find examples (i.e. Matt Leinart). Ironically, the only players on this list who absolutely are NOT entering the draft are Ohio State Buckeyes. Granted, the national consensus is that the Buckeyes were a year ahead of schedule. This could be the only excuse I can fathom. I don’t mean to upset the traditionalists who think all college players should graduate before entering the draft, but ALL of the Ohio State players minus Robiskie SHOULD go pro without hesitation. The only first 3 round worthy players on the fence are: Jerod Mayo, Mario Urrita, Brandon Flowers, Chilo Rachal, Phillip Merling, and Joe Burnett. Jerod Mayo is by far the biggest name on that short list. Since James Laurinaitis is out, officially, that makes Jerod Mayo no worse than the second best ILB in the draft. As well as considering various team needs and Laurinaitis’ exit from draft consideration Mayo could find himself in the top 25. The top 15 of this list are no doubt about it first round selections. With Laurinautis and Malcolm Jenkins out, should open the door for other seniors to move up. Those seniors can be seen at the Under Armor Senior Bowl this Saturday. Later on you can look forward to seeing a Senior Bowl recap.

'08 NFL Draft Profile...Kenny Phillips

by Jason Jones

Kenny Phillips – FS – Univ. of Miami (FL) – 6’2, 210 lbs

Kenny Phillips is the next in a long line of impact safeties to come through the U. Shades of Ed Reed and the late Sean Taylor. Phillips came into Miami as a very highly touted prospect. He was noticed as early as his freshman year, and by his sophomore year he registered over 70 tackles (6 TFL) and four interceptions, all while missing the last 3 games of the season. Phillips has all of the measureables you look for in a FS. His size is ideal. He also has the physical abilities to play the always in demand “rover” position. He possess a certain, do whatever it takes to win attitude, that is not as easy to find as we would like to think. Phillips would line up a DT if he thought it would work. Unlike most Miami Hurricanes, Kenny Phillips has achieved All ACC Academic honors. He is as complete a player at his position as there has been in a while. He is solid in every aspect of his responsibilities on the field. He is a head hunter with distinct ball skills. Like his Miami predecessors at the position, he has the potential to be a game changer, even lead his team in tackles and interceptions He is a legit top 10 pick regardless of this years respective team needs. As cliché as it sounds, Kenny Phillips is most favorably comparable to a bigger Ed Reed.

2008 NFL DRAFT PROJECITONS: First Round – Top 10 Pick

'08 NFL Draft Profile...Jake Long

by Jason Jones

Jake Long – OT – University of Michigan – 6’7, 315 lbs

Jake Long is clearly the best OT in this year’s draft. Jake Long would’ve been in the top 5 last year as well. He has the perfect build. He is tall enough and long enough to handle big edge rushers. He is heavy enough to not get pushed around by bull rushers. And the most important measurable in this era of football is his agility and speed for his size. Most big, tall and slower OT’s have difficulty measuring up against the elite pass rushers. They have a tendency to over pursue and not have the physical ability to make up lost ground. There is a new breed of OT, and Jake Long possesses all of the attributes to succeed as one of them. Take last years first OT taken, Joe Thomas. They are very similar in almost every way, except one. Thomas is extremely skilled and yet very reserve and even. He’s the guy that goes to a bar and gets hit with a bottle and says, “C’mon man, we’re trying to have a good time”. Jake Long in the same situation is more likely to beat the guy within an inch of his life, breaking him in half and throwing the pieces through a window from a seated position. If Thomas is even and balanced, Long is even with the potential to get excessively physical. Just ask Bobby Carpenter. Carpenter beat him twice in the last regular season game. On the 3^rd attempt, Jake Long broke his leg. He doesn’t take to losing well, which can be good if controlled. The other nice factor that Long has, that most do not, is the ability to get up field. If he only blocking one man or two lesser players, he will get up field and block like a receiver on a running play. It is not outside the realm of possibility to see Jake Long 10-20 yards down field continuing to block. Not all OT’s have that ability. Sometimes it is the difference between a top 10 pick and a second or third round OT. If you played Frankenstein, Jake Long is the monster you would create. Regardless of who selects Jake Long, he could be compared to Jonathan Ogden if he had “Roid-Rage”

2008 NFL DRAFT PROJECTION: First Round – Top 5 Pick

Debating a College Football Playoff

by Jason Jones



After the 2007-08 BCS Bowl season concluded, we were all left with a sense of loss. I personally felt violated. There were a few games that I enjoyed the final score of, but by no means were they enjoyable and competitive. The beautiful thing is, I could tivo the games and do something else. Then come back and watch the first quarter of the game, then watch the other 3 quarters in fast forward just hoping to see some semblance of something worth watching in real time.

In reverse order, games I had any interest in…

Memphis 27

Florida Atlantic 44

I used to work near FAU in Boca Raton…that’s it, nothing analytical about it

UCLA 16

BYU 17

This one actually was decent, considering who played…C’mon, it's BYU/UCLA

Arizona St 34

Texas 52

Two things OKAM and CHARLES, its all about scouting draft picks

UCF 3

Mississippi St 10

Scouting Kevin Smith. Period. I have a friend that went to UCF.

Kentucky 35

Florida St 28

It was amazing FL St could even fill a roster after the suspenstions

Missouri 38

Arkansas 7

I really wanted Arkansas to slap Missouri back into being a second tier team

Michigan 41

Florida 35

This was fun, the two teams I loath the most in college football

Texas Tech 31

Virginia 28

Chris Long and Michael Crabtree, one is a top 5 pick and the other is the best WR

Illinois 17

USC 49

I wanted to know I was right about Illinois having no business on the same field as USC

Hawaii 10

Georgia 41

“No non-big 6 conference teams deserve to be in the BCS”, I told you so

West Virginia 48

Oklahoma 28

Merely an NFL Draft scouting game

LSU 38

Ohio St 24

I am an Ohio St fan, and that still burns even today

There were only 2 games that can be confused for competitive, and they were not any of the top 6 or 7 Bowl Games. That is unacceptable. I understand the reasons why there is not a playoff system. I do not agree with any of them. After this season, don’t we have to say, “I don’t care what the reasons are, it is just bad”. Its no longer a question of “I got screwed”, it now is “Everyone got screwed”. For those who say, “but we don’t want to lose the bowl games”. F@#K it! Keep the Bowl Games, just apply them to a playoff system. We can even continue to rotate the top 4 Bowl games, hay-ell, some people are calling for the return of the Cotton Bowl, that’s fine. And this way we can get back to real bowl games. No more San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl or the Papa Johns.com Bowl or the Champs Sports Bowl. Now on to the largest CROCK OF S@#T in the entire discussion, “A playoff would take too long and would cut into classes”. We can very easily fix this. First off, I think most fans believe if there is a playoff, we can get rid of the Conference Championships altogether. The only reason to have them is to give a team a last ditch effort to squeeze into that 8 seed. Or maybe some of these old coaches still have an affection for “Conference Champs” plaque on their office wall. Eliminate them for the sake of the playoff system.

Once we've established the brackets we need to apply estimated dates, I will be using the 2008 calendar to provide said dates. Also note, the teams and their ranks are my own opinion after the National Championship game and are inconsequential to the integrity of this discussion. An 8 team playoff creates 7 games. As written above, in the first round…

Games to take place on Saturday December 6^th (or 1^st weekend in December)

The Insight Bowl in Tempe, AZ…LSU vs. KANSAS

The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX…OHIO ST vs. VIRGINIA TECH

Games to take place on Saturday December 13^th (or 2^nd weekend in December)

The Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, LA…USC vs. OKLAHOMA

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA…GEORGIA vs. MISSOURI

Games to take place on Saturday December 20^th (or 3^rd weekend in December)

The Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ…LSU vs. VIRGINIA TECH

The Orange Bowl in Miami, FL…USC vs. GEORGIA

National Championship Game to take place on December 27^th (or 4^th weekend in Dec.)

The BCS Championship Bowl in Indianapolis, IN…LSU vs. USC

According to the path I have laid out I would have USC winning the National Championship in a playoff system in 2008 by rationalizing the top 8 team results of 2007. The biggest issue we have disproved is that a Playoff system would take too long. This year LSU was crowned the national champions on January 7^th, an entire week and change longer to do it the way we’ve been doing it.

The other major issue which has never been more prevalent than this season is matchups. There are no USC vs. Illinois games, no Georgia vs. Hawaii debacles, and we would be the better off for it.

Another issue that is often brought up is that people would not be as excited or that the regular season will not mean as much. First off, if you are one of those people who believe the concept that College Football is the best sport because every game counts…then you need to lay off the sauce or quit doing whatever drugs you’ve been doing. In the NFL every game counts. Seriously, how many times does Appalachian St vs. Michigan really happen? Ohio St will always play schools like Youngstown St. Georgia will always play schools like Louisiana-Lafayette. Oklahoma will always play schools like North Texas. Virginia Tech will always play schools like William and Mary. Need I go on? Whether you agree with me or not, the only time College Football’s regular season will ever mean as much as College Football would have you believe is if and when they commit to the Big 6 plays the Big 6 concept. Only teams from the “Big 6 Conferences” would play each other…with no exception. That would consist of; The ACC, The Big 10, The Big 12, The Big East, The PAC 10, and The SEC.

Checkout OHIO ST’s schedule as it was vs. how I would have it (hypothetically speaking) if they applied the Big 6 vs Big 6 concept.

Actual 2007 Ohio St Buckeye Schedule

Vs. Youngstown St

Vs. Akron Univ

At Washington Univ

Vs. Northwestern

At Minnesota

At Purdue

Vs. Kent St

Vs. Michigan St

At Penn St

Vs. Wisconsin

Vs. Illinois

At Michigan

Big 6 vs. Big 6 Ohio St schedule

Vs. Rutgers

Vs. Texas

At Iowa

Vs. Minnesota

At USC

At Purdue

Vs. Tennessee

Vs. Wisconsin

At Illinois

Vs. Michigan St

Vs. Penn St

At Michigan

Big 6 vs. Big 6 Virginia Tech

Vs. UCLA

At LSU

Vs. Wisconsin

Vs. Michigan

Vs North Carolina

At Clemson

At Duke

Vs. Boston College

At Georgia Tech

Vs Florida St

Vs. Miami (FL)

At Virginia

We can go all day, but you understand my point. Clearly the ACC, Big10, Big12, Big East, PAC10, and SEC are clearly better than everyone else. Boise St, Hawaii, East Carolina, Rice, Miami of Ohio, San Diego St, and Arkansas St can all go and cry me a river. Is Troy ever going to make it into the BCS Playoff and run the table on teams like USC, Texas, West Virginia, Florida, or Michigan? The answer is no, emphatically. And the reason is simple. Sure Boise St can and has beaten Oklahoma. Appalachian St has beaten Michigan. What is the likelihood that a team like Utah St can go and beat teams like USC, Georgia, and Oklahoma in three straight games? Virtually impossible, and the only reason I say virtually is because it would take a sample size of forever to really know. Chances are good, if we all lived to be 150 we would never see a sub Big 6 conference team beat 3 Elite Big 6 conference teams in three successive weeks. Let the little guys have their own championship series. You don’t see the New England Patriots playing the Toronto Argonauts, and why? Because they are two totally different levels of competition.

Finally, as I see the most important issues halting a playoff system, is money. University Presidents and anyone else in line to make money off of bowl bids and/or bowl wins all believe if we go to a playoff system, they all will lose money. That is flat out not true. It is only another excuse to not change the system. In fact, and I’m no marketing wiz, I believe they would make more money, maybe even double or triple earnings. Imagine, before the season even started the people who are set to make money off of the Fiesta Bowl already know going in on the rotating basis that they are getting no worse than the #1 team vs. the #8 team in the country by season’s end. Which means, if we take this years teams, they’d be looking at LSU vs. Kansas. The city, in this case Glendale Arizona, could begin to plan extra curricular’s, if you will. Parade’s, the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl Parade-each bowl could have their own parade. Cultural festivals, Christmas events, whatever comes to mind. Then as the season near’s its end, each city involved would benefit economically as well as each of the Universities involved would benefit monetarily. Have you ever seen what happens to a playoff city during playoff time? The President of USC cannot possibly believe that he/she would lose money playing Oklahoma as opposed to Illinois. Not to mention, for the really good teams. Those that are consistently in the Championship hunt the Presidents of said Universities would indeed double and triple the amount of money coming in, which would already be more in a playoff system than not. USC only played Illinois in a bowl game once if I’m not mistaken (sarcasm). Let’s assume USC wins the whole thing. The president and anyone else set to cash in on USC’s team success would get paid in the..

1. Sugar Bowl

2. Orange Bowl

3. BCS Championship Bowl

That’s big time Bowl money x’s 3. As you can clearly see, I do not understand for the life of me what factor the supporters of the current BCS could possibly be holding on to. Granted, I may have over looked a detail or two (it is 4:43am), however I feel very strongly that like the previously mentioned details any unmentioned one’s could be answered in a manner to support a playoff. College Football is the only major sport who does not crown its champion with some form of a playoff. Look at all of the Wild Card playoff teams who run the table (the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 40 is not to be confused with Boise St in ‘06). Currently, there are too many factors that try to decide who deserves to be #1 and #2. It could be argued that both LSU and Ohio St accidentally backed into the Championship game when USC and Georgia were playing at a higher level. It just feels like the computers and writers are dividing each team into 50 different factors to come up with a solid conclusion.

The only hope I have as a College Football fan is that someday the people of my generation who strongly believe in a playoff will eventually become the decision makers in the high powered positions. One day we will wake up and watch a press conference to hear, “Our Grandfathers believed that College Football does not need a playoff, well we are here to express to the world that we disagree…and will changing the current system in the upcoming season”. For some of you, if I’m right, you will not live to see it. Unless someone steps in and forcefully makes the change, I am afraid it may take the evolution of 30 years before a playoff is a legitimate possibility.

'08 NFL Draft Profile...Chris Long

by Jason Jones


Chris Long – DE – University of Virginia – 6’4, 284 lbs (4.78)

Chris Long, for those who do not know, is indeed the son of Raider Hall of Famer Howie Long. Unlike most former NFL players who have young boys who aspire to play football, Howie has kept his nose out of it. Al Groh, a former NFL head coach, has been given an opportunity to cultivate Chris Long’s natural ability. When you watch the tape on Chris Long, a few things stand out visibly. First and foremost is the penetration he gets consistently on much larger offensive lineman. It seems as if one could bank on a 3-7 yard penetration on each and every play. Virginia’s unique 3-4 front allows Long to line up on either the right or the left. No matter the side, that is the side of the Quarterbacks' pocket that seems to close in the fastest. In each of the games evaluated, it only seemed to take about one possession for the offensive lineman to realize they COULD NOT OVERPOWER LONG. Against Long, offensive lineman move back in a preventative manner so to not get beaten immediately. Bottom line? If an offensive lineman wants to stand his ground against Chris Long, then that offensive lineman will lose…every time. The second thing you’ll notice is his size. At 6’4 and 284 lbs, Long is an ideal Defensive End in either the 4-3 or 3-4. In a 4-3 scheme, it's simple, let him line up on the strong side every time and watch him work. If put on the weak side it would not be fair, and the offense would inevitably make adjustments in the form of bringing over the tight end or adjusting blocking to allow two offensive lineman to detail him. In the 3-4 it is completely a different animal. Conceptually, in the 3-4, it is ideal to acquire non-specific defensive lineman to play DE that are at least 275 lbs. The idea is that 3 defensive lineman would/could consume 5 offensive lineman. In this angle it might seem a waste to put Chris Long in a 3-4. He is big enough, strong enough, long enough, and skilled enough that he may be the first 3-4 Defensive End we could describe as a playmaker. In a 4-3 is most likely compared to a combination of Mario Williams and Julius Peppers. In a 4-3, it might be more like, the strength of a Richard Seymour and the playmaking ability of a Dwight Freeney.

2008 NFL DRAFT PROJECTION: First Round – Top 3 Pick

BCS Title Game preview

By Rick Morris

EDITED TO ADD POST-GAME THOUGHT: Two years in a row, Ohio State has jumped out to an early lead in the National Title game only to end up getting smoked. If the Buckeyes make it to the championship game again next year, could we spot them another 14-21 points off the bat just to make it competitive?


The final game of college football's screwiest season ever matches two teams who arrived under fairly controversial circumstances. This has been the most difficult season ever to narrow a title game selection to two teams -- and when you look back over the last few decades, that's saying a mouthful.

Nevertheless, the BCS title will be decided tonight, and with Georgia and USC both rolling in their respective bowl games, LSU won't worry about having to share a disputed crown again as they did four years ago if they win tonight. Here are the major factors in the game:

^ Two quarterbacks who can make the plays they need to, but who are erratic -- and both could end up splitting time with backups tonight.

^ Like Florida a year ago, LSU does have superior speed, but injuries to some of their top players negate their advantage in athleticism to a certain extent.

^ Wanting to avoid the fate of Michigan, LSU will jam the box and try to take Beanie Wells out of the game. If Todd Boeckman can avoid mistakes (a big if!), the Two Brians could thrive in single coverage.

^ The wars in the trenches on both sides of the ball will be awesome, with the talent on both offensive and defensive lines.

^ Intangibles are fairly even: LSU has been getting rightfully disrespected for being underachievers this year and will have that motivation -- plus what remains of the Hurricane Katrina storyline -- at home no less. Ohio State came in doing the "Hollywood" routine a year ago and got humiliated in front of the world. Think they'll be amped up?

^ Ohio State has the edge in special teams, although a punt or kickoff return for a TD won't be followed by a group pile-on this year!

Ultimately, Ohio State has a ginormous edge in coaching. Les Miles has yet to prove that he is a big-game coach, and last year aside, Jim Tressel has a sizable resume in that regard. In the BCS era, a team with a significantly inferior coach has never won one of these games. Look for a game played mostly between the 20 yard lines, with a few intermittent big plays. Ohio State wins on a late field goal, 23-20.

'08 NFL Draft Profile. . .Darren McFadden

by Jason Jones

Darren McFadden – RB – Univ. of Arkansas – 6’2, 205

One word comes to mind, COMPLETE. Let’s get this out of the way, last summer he got into a fist fight in a parking lot (DON’T MAKE ANYTHING OF IT) Most people from casual fans to elite analysts believe Darren McFadden is one of those revolutionary players. Barring injuring, is he a hall of fame quality player? No question, the real question is how good he can be. Potentially, all things considered there is some potential that the age old question 30 years would be, “Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Darren McFadden”. Now naturally that is extremely far fetched today. However, there is no denying the fact that he has the gradable skills as well as intangible abilities. After the season Adrian Peterson has had in Minnesota, remember I was the one who said, “Peterson is the best RB to enter the NFL Draft since Emmitt Smith or better. As far as the measurables, they are very similar, but McFadden is slightly better in all of them. Size, speed, strength, vision, agility, football IQ, catching the ball, running between the tackles, running outside the tackles, everything. Darren McFadden may be the best running back drafted since Walter Payton; that’s right I said what you are afraid to say. One NFL Draft analyst said, “Darren McFadden is CLEARLY the best SEC running back since Bo Jackson”, now he isn’t that strong but after looking at the SEC over history , that is not far fetched at all. McFadden is the most complete running back that I can comprehend (at least as we are preparing for the draft, things can always change). He runs in the 4.4 range and is extremely shifty. He is good enough to carry the load (25+ carries a game throughout the duration of an NFL season) easy, he is probably a 4.5 yards per carry or better and that’s without breaking big runs. If he goes to the right situation and stays healthy, there is no reason to think he couldn’t rush for 1500 yds or 2000 yds from scrimmage his rookie year. If you are looking forward to seeing him wow GM’s at the combine, make other plans. Darren McFadden will not participate (conventional wisdom, 90% sure), and to be honest he may be the first prospect since Peyton Manning who really doesn’t NEED to.

Darren McFadden is hard to compare to other players, but here we go: A thin Bo Jackson, young Eddie George, prime Marshall Faulk, with Earl Campbell tendencies.

2008 NFL DRAFT PROJECTIONS: High First Round (no worse than 3)

If it weren’t for need being outside the running back position he would be the no questioned #1. 80% of the NFL would take him #1 regardless of their RB situation. I personally believe that Miami and St. Louis reside in the 10%

'08 NFL Draft Profile. . .Glenn Dorsey

by Jason Jones

Glenn Dorsey – DT – Louisiana State University – 6’2, 305 lbs

Glenn Dorsey is worth the hype. I am not a fan of taking any defensive lineman #1 overall, signed Courtney Brown. However, as much as I am not a fan of DL going #1 or LSU at all, he may just be deserving. Dorsey is a monster in a position where you don’t expect much monstrous characteristics. This may just be the kind of talent that could compete in statistics like sacks and tackles for loss with those of Defensive Ends. He is the most explosive DT we have seen since Warren Sapp. Although we don’t think much of Sapp now, no question he would have been worth the pick as early as 4 years pre-Buccaneers Super Bowl victory (2000). Explosiveness is the first word that comes to mind when describing Glenn Dorsey. He gets great penetration and can take on two blockers consistently without slowing down. Unlike most defensive lineman in this or any draft, Dorsey could and based on where he will get drafted should start yesterday for whoever drafts him. Most believe that will be Miami. Dorsey is the ideal height and weight to play in a standard 4-3 defensive scheme. He is the prototype at his position. He is a run stuffer as well as a DT that will consistently collapse the front side of the pocket. As the kids say, Glenn Dorsey is the truth. Any team who need to address DT or run defense, can all but fix their issues in both categories by simply selecting Glenn Dorsey in the draft. The only problem is that there are at least 29 teams who have not shot unless they trade up, which Parcells is probably willing to entertain. The best Defensive Tackle and/or Defensive Player in the draft. A can’t miss prospect. Most favorably compared to a young Warren Sapp with Reggie White like tendencies.

2008 NFL DRAFT PROJECTION: First Round - #1 Overall (no lower than 4 overall)

FDH Lounge Show #22: December 30, 2007

By Rick Morris

Tonight's 22nd edition of THE FDH LOUNGE (8-11 PM EST) on SportsTalkNetwork.com will feature our first-ever Presidential Fantasy Draft based on the game design and draft board on FantasyDrafthelp.com. This will be the focus for most of our first two hours of the program as we select various candidates for president based on point tallies for various levels of campaign achievement and then argue vigorously over the state of the race!

After our presidential focus is done towards the end of Hour Two, we turn our attention to a thorn in the side of one of the candidates: dark-horse folk hero Ron Paul, congressman from Texas who like his Democrat equivalent Dennis Kucinich is threatened by a tough primary challenge for his House seat. We'll talk to Chris Peden, who hopes to take down 2008's trendiest presidential candidate on his home turf.

In Hour Three, we deliver our takes on the Mitchell Report fallout before turning to The FDH Lounge Pigskin Report for an early preview of the NFL playoff picture and an assessment of the major bowl games in college.

As always when you join us, it's the widest array of talk anywhere on God's Green Earth: The FDH Lounge, only on SportsTalkNetwork.com!

FDH Lounge Show #21: December 2, 2007

By Rick Morris

The 21st edition of THE FDH LOUNGE on SportsTalkNetwork.com (8-11 PM EST Sunday) will bring you more of the widest variety of talk anywhere in the known universe.

We will be joining you at approximately 8:20 PM EST as opposed to our usual start time as the special postgame coverage from the Cleveland Browns/Arizona Cardinals tilt will be finishing sometime shortly after the top of the hour. When we do start, it will be with our usual Opening Statements from The Dignitaries, before we move on to our latest look at the presidential race -- which will be officially underway with the balloting in one month. So much is happening: Hillary's lead is shrinking, Joe Biden threatens impeachment, Huck's surge continues, the Mitt-and-Rudy dog-and-pony show drags along, McCain gets endorsed by the #1 newspaper in New Hampshire -- and that's not even counting the infamous YouTube debate! We'll examine the big picture in the Democrat and Republican races and get you ready for our first FDH Presidential Fantasy Draft on the next program (December 16), when we assemble armies of politicians and vie for points in the 2008 elections!

In Hour Two, after the presidential talk gives way to other subjects, we examine the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the shocking death of NFL star Sean Taylor. From there, it's on to another installment of Celebrity Deaths in Threes (Taylor is not included -- too soon!) and then our FDH Lounge Chief Entertainment Dignitary Samantha Jones (boy is that name easier to type than her maiden name!) tells you about the entertainment-oriented gifts you should be asking for and buying for others this holiday season.

In Hour Three, baseball writer Eric Gold joins us to take a look at the postseason awards and the state of the Hot Stove and the rumors and transactions flying all around. We wrap up with our FDH Lounge Pigskin Report with a look back at NFL Week 13 and a look ahead to the college football postseason with all the bowl and title game pairings finalized earlier in the night.

There's so many interesting developments going on in the world and only one show that can bring you educated and above all entertaining takes on all of them: The Great American Radio Show on Internet TV, The FDH Lounge.

Jim Tressel's next bee-yotch will be Les Miles

By Rick Morris

Any Michigan fan will tell you that the process of rationalizing losses to Jim Tressel is painful though necessary because of the repetitive nature of those results (every year since 2001 except '03). Fortunately, the Wolverines' leading coaching candidate comes ready to spin any ugly occurrence!

Les Miles actually bragged in a press conference that his team did not lose in regulation this season! Unfortunately, for Coach Les "Results Relative to Talent and Expectations" Miles, the NCAA engages in the goofy habit of counting ALL game results in the won-loss columns -- even the games that stretch into one or more overtime periods. Imagine that!

Buckeye fans probably thought that nobody could be more entertaining-in-a-surly-way in defeat than the departing Coach Lloyd Cooper. But apparently the real comedy will enter the OSU-Michigan rivalry in the coming years when the new whiny underachiever for That School Up North starts dropping his excuses for the continuing domination of The Sweatervest.

Top college football coaching jobs

By Rick Morris

While watching college football with the family over the holidays, I got into a conversation with my brother about which coaching jobs were on the top tier. We were talking about this because:

A) College football is the only sport my brother follows in-depth (as a Notre Dame grad).
and
B) This topic is really in the news a lot, with openings at (so far) Michigan, Texas A&M and Nebraska.

So here we have for you the FDH Top Two Tiers of College Football Coaching Jobs, each listed alphabetically. To be on the top tier, the program must have great fan interest, the prestige of a long successful history and at least some semblance of recent success (with BCS bowl berths as one determinant). The top tier was a consensus of the opinions of my brother and myself; the second tier I wrote afterwards.

TOP TIER
^ Alabama (barely clinging to their spot on this tier with their troubles of recent years)
^ Florida
^ Florida State (they're down now, but there will be insane interest in the job when the old man leaves)
^ Miami
^ Michigan
^ Nebraska (see Alabama)
^ Notre Dame (as long as they have a network TV deal, they're on this tier regardless of anything else)
^ Ohio State
^ Oklahoma
^ Penn State (see Florida State)
^ Texas
^ USC

SECOND TIER
^ Arkansas (realistically towards the bottom of the tier)
^ Auburn (if Tuberville leaves for A&M, it's a lateral move aside from the money -- see below)
^ Clemson
^ Georgia
^ LSU (at the top of this tier, but no, Delusional Tiger Fan, a half-decade of relative success does not yet erase the last few decades and put you on the top tier!)
^ Michigan State
^ Tennessee
^ Texas A&M
^ West Virginia (stepping up to keep Rich Rodriguez from taking the 'Bama job showed that the program has grown enough financially to justify being rated here)
^ Wisconsin (Barry Alvarez goes down as one of the all-time greats for getting the Badger program to this level)

Lllllloyd Carr drives into the sunset

By Rick Morris

Some of the Detroit Red Wings blogs I enjoy reading have a fitting nickname for Detroit Free Press columnist/author/talk show host Mitch Albom: The Delicate Genius. His writing talent and creative abilities are beyond dispute, but he doesn’t have an internal meter to keep his tendencies to become overwrought and maudlin in control. Witness his piece earlier this week bemoaning the circumstances surrounding the departure of Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr.

It is quite possible to buy into one of the larger points of Albom’s column: that Carr is a much nicer guy than his gruff public persona would indicate and that he is a rare figure in the sports world with a sense of perspective about the place of his profession. Certainly, Carr’s insight about the worth about sports vis-à-vis the rest of the world is refreshing and necessary, especially in a week when a jerk like Nick Saban wallows in self-pity and compares a football loss to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor. But Albom, unsurprisingly, let his fondness for Carr take him too far in this article as he basically suggests that Carr was too morally pure for college football:

"Say good-bye to the good guy, maybe the last of them. Whoever coaches Michigan next will have to be more about business than Carr was, more about national titles, less about hospital visits, more about recruiting, less about philosophy. It is just the way the world works, and the world has moved quickly on Carr. In recent years, you could see the weariness showing on his face, in his jowls, in his eyes, which became steelier and angrier as the silliness grew in college football ... Remember, this is a guy who started in Ann Arbor in 1980, when ESPN was just a Connecticut cable experiment. In his time, he has seen the Big Ten grow to 11, the Rose Bowl go from Granddaddy to group member, and the goal of college football go from playing on Jan. 1 to playing on Jan. 7 ..."

True, Carr’s career coincided with the period in which big money (TV deals, endorsements, sponsorships, alumni organizations, etc.) really ran amok. Point well taken. But to suggest that Carr might be “the last good guy?” What hyperbole. What garbage.

Frankly, one need look no further than Michigan’s archrival to disprove this idiocy. Jim Tressel has worked every bit as hard to uphold academic standards as Carr and has done every bit as much for charitable and educational organizations (both of his parents were heavily involved in education, as is one of his brothers) and has been equally concerned with trying to uphold a good image for his university. Granted, Tressel has suffered his share of off-field embarrassments from his players over the years. But Carr has had a number of wanna-be Terrell Owens types with big mouths over the years (i.e. Mike Hart, Braylon Edwards, Charles Woodson) and he never suffers in some quarters the way that Tressel does for his players’ failings.

Again, I don’t have a problem with what the main thrust of Albom’s column seems to be. College football has become a lot sillier and more like a circus in the last quarter-century – although some coaches have continued to thrive in this climate without selling their souls. And Carr has probably been one of the good guys in the game and has a record better than many. But Lloyd Carr, when it was all said and done, was unable to be any better or worse than a mirror of what was happening in Columbus. When they had a horrible big-game coach in John Cooper, he thrived. When they had a great big-game coach in Jim Tressel, he folded. Frankly, it’s very unfair to the rest of college football to find in Carr’s failures evidence of his nobility. Whether Mitch Albom believes it or not, Lloyd Carr is not a better man than Jim Tressel just because The Vest has pounded him year after year.

OSU/Michigan liveblogging wrapup

By Rick Morris

On the day that Lloyd Carr probably coached his last game in the OSU/Michigan series, the day had a certain old-school, Woody-and-Bo feel to it.

A year after the two teams met in the most hyped and consequential version of college football's greatest rivalry and exceeded the expectations with one of the greatest games ever, the next edition had a bit less at stake and the game had far less excitement. But the outcome remained the same as Ohio State defeated Michigan 14-3 in what might be Carr's final game at the Big House. If Carr does end up walking off into the sunset, this rivalry will be a tremendous reason why as the nearly unprecedented dominance they achieved over the Buckeyes in the John Cooper era has given way to a 1-6 record against the Scarlet and Gray since Jim Tressel took the helm.

A year ago, the #1 Buckeyes turned back #2 Michigan, 42-39, in an absolute classic to advance to the BCS Title Game and relegate the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl. Today, for two teams on the outside looking in regarding the national title picture, the Rose Bowl was the prize at stake and OSU will play there for the first time since 1997, barring a continuation of the extreme set of dominoes falling at the top of the polls in this crazy year.

Michigan's talented trio on offense of quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart and offensive tackle Jake Long passed up NFL riches a year ago to return for their senior season and to help the 2007 graduating class to avoid an indignity that Michigan had not suffered in decades: losing four in a row to Ohio State. But they were unsuccessful, owing in large part to Henne and Hart having to play through injuries.

In a game that always features so many playmakers for both teams on both sides of the ball, very few of them stepped up today. The two who did the most were both Buckeyes: Chris Wells with 220 yards and 2 touchdowns on 39 carries and Vernon Gholston serving as a constant presence in the Michigan backfield and coming away with three sacks.

Just as Tressel assumed the head coaching job in Columbus in 2001 in what looked to be a hopeless situation, so too does Carr's likely replacement face a disheartening picture in terms of moving back towards parity in the rivalry. Michigan returned a solid veteran core from 2006, the Buckeyes did not, the game was in Ann Arbor and they blew this chance. Even with some early departures to the NFL, Ohio State will still be more experienced than Michigan next year and the game will be at the Horseshoe, dealing the Wolverines a tough hand in terms of avoiding a half-decade without victory in the series.

OSU/Michigan liveblogging third installment

By Rick Morris

Continuing the parallels with the Wisconsin game of two weeks ago, Ohio State had a lot of success in the third quarter running Beanie Wells right at, over and around the defense. Right after a 65-yard Ray Small punt return touchdown was called back, Wells rumbled in from 62 to provide the signature big play the game had been missing and put his team up 14-3. That remains the current score.

Chad Henne left due to the deteriorating nature of his injuries, but has returned to the sidelines. Mike Hart has still had no impact outside of the team's field goal drive in the first quarter, with 43 yards on 16 carries. Wells, who ripped off a long touchdown run as a backup in last year's game, has in his second Ohio State/Michigan game already surpassed Hart's accomplishments in the rivalry, having put up 169 yards on 25 carries to go with his two touchdowns. Brandon Saine has been in the game, tallying 18 yards on 8 carries, but regrettably is still not being used on screen passes.

The talented wide receivers on both teams haven't done anything, in part due to the weather and the quarterbacks' difficulties in battling it.

Just as Michigan was starting to get some momentum in the early fourth quarter off of a long punt return, Jim Tressel appealed the call on the field and won it as the replay judge ruled that the ball should be spotted 12 yards back. Henne returned for an anticlimactic three-and-out that ABC commentator Kirk Herbstreit correctly said would remind nobody of Willis Reed's heroics. Ray Small just recovered a punt he muffed deep in his own territory and the Buckeyes will now continue running the clock down, leading 14-3.

OSU/Michigan liveblogging second installment

By Rick Morris

Ohio State just dodged a huge bullet right before halftime. Todd Boeckman, who is inexplicably not wearing gloves in the freezing drizzle of Ann Arbor and who is throwing wobbling ducks left and right, airmailed one to the Michigan secondary during an implementation of the "wishy-washy, sorta-two-minute offense." A 48-yard K.C. Lopata field goal attempt missed, leaving Ohio State on top 7-3 at halftime.

Earlier, the Bucks took the lead with an 8-play, 44-yard TD drive culminating in a Beanie Wells 1-year touchdown run. They executed a nice blend of rushing and short passing on that drive.

The trend mentioned in the previous post of settling into a ball-control game continues. The Ohio State defense has risen up on a number of occasions, first by holding Michigan to a field goal in the first quarter when they were on a drive with a lot of momentum, then by keeping the Wolverines from advancing late in the first half when they took over on a punt return at midfield, then by forcing the Maize and Blue to attempt a long field goal attempt after the interception at the end of the half. Michigan had taken over at the 50 on that punt attempt because of a previous Zoltan Mesko punt to the Ohio State 4. The Buckeyes ran three plays right into the line and punted from their own end zone, setting up the field position that Michigan could not exploit.

Unlike last year's epic battle, this has been a game of almost no big plays, almost no turnovers, very little controversy to this point and not much to identify it so far as a huge rivalry game except the nonstop mouth and gesturing of Mike Hart. At 42 yards on 11 carries and no impact aside from Michigan's field goal drive in the first quarter, he hasn't yet earned the right to his irritating actions today.

OSU/Michigan liveblogging first installment

By Rick Morris

Through the first quarter, the game has resembled the field position battle that made up the first half of the OSU/Wisconsin clash two weeks ago. The slick turf has caused some difficulties thus far but no turnovers.
Blogger: The FDH Lounge Multimedia Magazine - Edit Post "OSU/Michigan liveblogging first installment"
Michigan used the no-huddle offense to great effect on a 12-play, 49-yard drive to gain the game's only points on a field goal. The OSU defense kicked in to prevent a touchdown, with star defensive lineman Vernon Gholston's sack playing a key role. Pass protection has been an issue for Michigan, somewhat neutralizing the weather-related struggles of the Buckeyes to date. In the early second quarter, Ohio State will take over in Michigan territory after a punt, trailing 3-0.

OSU/Michigan liveblogging pregame

By Rick Morris

We will have liveblogging coverage of the Big Game today in Ann Arbor. Here's the keys to the game for each team:

For Ohio State:

^ Avoid turnovers. The best hope for the underdog in this game is to replicate the damaging turnovers Illinois inflicted on Ohio State last week.

^ Work Brandon Saine into the offense. For all the talk about spicing up the game with Ted Ginn Jr. prototype Ray Small, screen passes to Saine would work even better because they would be so out of character for the Buckeyes. My FDH partner Jason Jones has been screaming for this element all year long, rightfully so.

^ Get Malcolm Jenkins back playing at the level of his potential. He's had a tough November and is facing a hot Mario Manningham, perhaps the best wide receiver in the country. If he has a "Shawn Springs circa 1996 moment" against the Wolverines, his team may not survive.

For Michigan:

^ Have "healthy quality" play from Chad Henne and Mike Hart. If these two play up to the level they did last year, Michigan could well win. Last year, both offenses achieved near-perfect balance, keeping the defenses on their heels the whole way. Ohio State is likely to play a well-balanced offensive game; Michigan must do the same.

^ Channel the emotion of what's likely to be Lloyd Carr's last OSU/Michigan game. 20 years ago, a less talented Buckeye team went into Ann Arbor and shocked their archrivals in Earle Bruce's last game at the helm. Today, a lesser team on paper (especially defense) looks to do the same.

The prediction? With a Rose Bowl berth at stake, an Ohio State team that has been better prepared and usually more talented since 2001 does what it did last year -- match a raised level of play from Michigan and prevail on ability. The Buckeyes go to Pasadena with a 26-20 win.