Week 1 in Review

The FCS has arrived!  I think it’s time we get them an automatic BCS bid.  Okay, maybe not an automatic BCS bid but maybe a lower tier bowl game.  Below is a list of most of the FCS over FBS wins in week 1 and there were a few more close games that the FBS squeaked out. 

North Dakota State 24, Kansas State 21

Eastern Washington 49, Oregon State 46

Northern Iowa 28, Iowa State 20
Towson 33, UConn 18
McNeese State 53, South Florida 21
Eastern Illinois 40, San Diego State 19

The week 1 “preseason” games against these FCS schools are a thing of the past.  We’ve seen this trend steadily increase of the past few years, starting with the bombshell Appalachian State dropped a Michigan a few years ago.  No more sleeping on these little guys.

Now, on to some thoughts and reactions on the first weekend of college football.

 

Biggest Surprise

Florida State

No one is surprised that the Seminoles won on Monday against Pitt.  What is surprising is how they won- on the arm of a redshirt freshman quarterback.  I expected a very conservative offense from Jimbo Fisher on Monday, because of the young quarterback, but also because he’s got two solid running backs and arguably the best offensive line since coming to Florida State. 

Instead, we saw something from Fisher and this FSU offense that we haven’t seen.  Jimbo put the ball in the hands of Jameis Winston and let him chuck it.  And chuck it he did, to the tune of 25-27 for 356 yards and four touchdowns.  What’s interesting about this is last year, Fisher never gave fifth year senior EJ Manuel the same vote of confidence by putting the game in his hands and letting him win the game.

This game shows me that, 1) Fisher has the utmost confidence in Jameis Winston, 2) Fisher seems to be more comfortable with the team and staff that he has now, than he ever has, 3) this is the team Fisher has worked for since coming to Florida State and it showed in the way he called the game. 

 

Clemson
I think we all had a good feeling about Clemson but still a little skeptical and a ‘let’s see them prove it’ mentality.  Well, Clemson proved it.  The Tigers played a great game and showed a toughness and physicality that we really haven’t seen from Clemson.  When the game was on the line and Clemson needed to prove to the world that they belong, they lived up to and surpassed expectations.

 

Wyoming/Nebraska’s Defense
This is the hardest Wyoming has played under Coach Dave Christiansen.  The Cowboys were outmatched physically, yet they continued to grind and hit and work and put themselves in position to win the game in the final seconds, on the road, in a stadium where the Huskers haven’t lost a home opener in 28 years.

Now on to that Nebraska defense.  Wyoming is a very good offense, however, that does not excuse the Huskers from giving up 602 yards, 34 points and 35 first downs to a team that is physically, far inferior to Nebraska.  Quarterback, Brett Smith moved that ball up and down the field nearly at will against this defense.  If this defensive performance stood alone, you could chalk it up to working the kinks out in week one or just a matchup issue.  The reality is this has been a growing theme at Nebraska.  The defense has regressed over the past few years under a defensive coach in Bo Pelini.  If the Huskers can’t get this defense fixed they won’t have a chance in the B1G.

 

They Are Who We Thought They Were

Alabama

Most of the top 25 performed about as expected.  Alabama has some kinks to workout but they’re going to be fine moving forward.  They’ve got a big matchup coming up in two weeks against Texas A&M and I think we’ll get a good gauge of the ‘Tide then.

The offensive line must improve and I’m confident they will.  That was a very solid, well-coached Virginia Tech defense Alabama faced and I think will serve as a good wake-up call for any ‘Bama players who think you don’t have to work week in and week out to win a title.

 

Virginia Tech
This could fall under biggest surprise but I think when you look at VaTech under Coach Frank Beamer, this is what you get; great defense, solid special teams and a very good running game.  Unfortunately, they missed on the special teams (they gave up a punt return for touchdown and kick return for touchdown) and the ground game was non-existent. 
 
This is what I expected from VaTech in 2013, except for the poor special teams play.  Injuries have wrecked the Hokie backfield and the reality is Logan Thomas is not a good enough quarterback to win games without a legitimate ground game.  The defense will win some games for Tech and give them a shot to win some they shouldn’t but, top 25 and a BCS bowl aren’t in the cards for this team, despite what many analysts thought in the preseason.

 

Florida
2013 will be more of the same from the Gators, great defense and lousy offense.  I’m not sure they’ll win 11 regular season games with that recipe this season, however.

 

Oregon
The Ducks are going to be one of the best, most efficient offenses in the country.  We all knew that going into the season.  Let’s not go crazy over blowout of a pretty bad FCS school.

 

Question Marks

Georgia

This could be a little premature but the Dawgs lost more than just the game to Clemson.  Their best wide receiver, Malcolm Mitchell tore is ACL and is lost for the year, and their offensive line really struggled to keep the Clemson pass rush of Murray.  Georgia’s first month of the season is as tough as anyone in the country and there is no room for error.  I don’t think it’s time to panic in Athens but the Dawgs will have to bounce back in a hurry.

 

Oklahoma State’s quarterback situation
After last year’s madness at quarterback we should probably give Coach Mike Gundy the benefit of the doubt but the lost Wes Lunt to transfer and now Gundy has benched Clint Chelf (week 1’s starter) in favor of J.W. Walsh.  If Walsh plays well this will be a non issue but one has to wonder how long this team can keep winning with the constant question mark at the most important position on the field.