4th and 1: Les Miles, Miami’s Title Hunt, Mark Dantonio Returns…
Clock management, is it really all that difficult?
1st. “But coach Miles, he’s a great dude, man.” LSU wide receiver Russell Shepard thinks there’s much more to Les Miles than the public sees or paints him to be. For the last year or so, much of the world has thought of Miles as lucky to be leading the Tigers. He is a serviceable, but far from great, coach who makes some serious mistakes – ones that cost LSU a game against Ole Miss in 2009 and nearly another against Tennessee last weekend.
Watching the final few seconds of that last game was almost comical. The Tigers had no idea what was going on and were saved by substitutions botched by the Vols. And that’s where Miles stands, as the coach who can’t get it right in pressure situations. Remember, he’s the only coach to lead a 2-loss team to a national championship and those two losses both occurred in triple-overtime.
Miles may keep his job following this season because statistically speaking he’s done well as the Tigers’ head man, but if he doesn’t it could come down to moments like Saturday. LSU is one those teams – like Florida – that doesn’t look as good as its record yet this season. The two meet on Saturday in what could be a very telling game for both programs.
2nd. It’s a little premature to talk about Miami’s national championship hopes – we’ve already touched on the fact that the Hurricanes look like an improving program – but like last season this looks like a team that could be in the thick of it. Of course last year it didn’t end up as expected.
Miami benefits from a schedule that hardly puts fear into anyone. FSU is up this weekend, but the other tough home games are UNC and a questionable Virginia Tech. The Canes’ road schedule looks like cake.
If the Miami defense can perform together as a unit and Jacory Harris can limit his interceptions (that’s the million dollar question), the Canes can be competitive. Harris, though, shows few signs of being the superstar he was expected to be this season. He puts great touch on his passes which in some occasions results in big plays, but at times he seems to get a little too confident in his abilities. There have been too many passes floated into double- and triple-coverage. Until Harris lessens the number of bad decisions he makes with his arm, Miami will only go so far.
3rd. Mark Dantonio will be coaching Michigan State this Saturday and this time it appears to be certain. The Spartans’ head coach was slated to return when he team took on Wisconsin last weekend, but a blood clot kept him from being in attendance. Dantonio is healthier this time and has been cleared by his doctors to return.
The Michigan State head coach will command his forces from the booth instead of the sidelines to stay away from most of the stress on the field. However, the Spartans are facing instate, Big Ten rival Michigan so the pressures of the game will be difficult to avoid altogether.
4th. Terrelle Pryor will return for Ohio State, but Tyler Moeller will not. The nickel defensive back and one of the Buckeyes’ leaders tore a pectoral muscle and is out for the season.
This is another serious setback for Moeller who missed the entire 2009 season after suffering brain trauma as the result of a sucker-punch in a bar. Moeller worked hard to get ready for the 2010 season and had earned serious playing time. With the news that he’s lost for the season, Ohio State will apply for a sixth year of eligibility for the DB.
Don’t try to imagine tearing your pectoral muscle. It’s not the most pleasant of injuries.
And 1. A head coach you probably haven’t heard of – but should have – resigned this week. Billy Jo of Miles College left the program citing health concerns. Jo trails only the legendary Eddie Robinson on the all-time wins list of coaches at historically black colleges. Over 33 seasons Jo won 243 games. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 2007.